Summarization of an Article
Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression is a relevant article that outlines new techniques in treating Treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The report provides Ketamine as the ideal treatment for people with TRD. The article focusses on new therapeutic approaches like Ketamine with a little emphasis on using monoamine hypothesis in treating depression. For years, clinical psychiatrists have always used the monoamine hypothesis in predicting the underlying functional changes caused by depression (Limandri,2018). The article looks at other approaches of Treatment of ATD, such as N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist and other substances that inhibit the psychological action of another, with little relevance on monoamine hypothesis (Limandri,2018).
The article begins by outlining the implications of ATD patients in assessing efficient treatment. The report asserts that it is usually problematic for ATD patients to switch from one antidepressant medication to a new treatment technique like Ketamine (Limandri,2018). Limandri (2018) establishes arguments in supporting his findings on Ketamine by providing instances where Ketamine to be vital and efficient in treating ATD.
Ketamine is an anesthetic drug used in relieving pain and reducing irritability in patients. The drug was discovered in 1960, and primarily used as an aesthetic (Limandri,2018). However, recent studies showcase that Ketamine can help in mitigating depressive symptoms. The drug is yet to be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as a recommended drug for people with ATD. Subsequent studies on the efficiency of Ketamine as a therapeutic approach in treating ATD have continuously increased interest in making it an ideal medication for depression
The article showcases Ketamine as a rapid antidepressant for ATD patients. The article outlines that in reducing depressive symptoms, Ketamine is useful in small doses. By intravenous intrusion, Ketamine can cause antidepressant effects for several hours or weeks (Limandri,2018). In treating depression, Ketamine influences glutamate receptors in redressing psychological functions. Glutamate receptors are of immense value in evoking the normal mental functioning of the brain. Damage of glutamate dysfunction causes catastrophic implications on one’s psychological functioning (Limandri,2018).
With changes in human behavior in today’s world, there have been growing concerns as to whether common antidepressants were ideal for efficient Treatment of ATD. Weaknesses in inhibiting antidepressants have resulted in a shift from treating depression by increasing levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine to treating depression as a disorder of synaptic plasticity (Limandri,2018). Moreover, recent studies show that the antidepressant effects of Ketamines are two times effective than that of common antidepressants (Limandri,2018). Limandri (2018) asserts that, based on these findings, Ketamine could be the single most advanced Treatment of depression in the 21st century.
The discovery of treating depression by targeting glutamate receptors has sparked interest in the NMDA receptor antagonist (Limandri,2018). The shift to the NMDA receptor antagonist in mitigating depression has opened doors to new therapeutic techniques. The article provides rapastinel as an example. By intravenous infusion, it alleviates depressive symptoms (Limandri,2018).
The article also points reasons as to why Ketamine is yet to be approved by the United States Food and Administration (FDA). Limandri (2018) asserts that the existence of studies in justifying the effectiveness of Ketamine as reasons as to why Ketamine is still to be approved by the FDA. The article cites the studies conducted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) on Ketamine but highlights that these studies by APA are no treatment guidelines for TDA patients.
In a nutshell, though, the FDA does not yet approve Ketamine. Gaining interest from a psychiatrist in focussing on NMDA receptor antagonists in treating depression has shifted to a new therapeutic approach. With inefficiency in monoamine depressant in treating depressive symptoms in today’s world. Treating TDA has moved from the focus of treating depression through the correction of the glatamate receptors. The article provides Ketamine as a novel discovery in treating people with Treatment-resistant depression.
References:
Limandri,, B. (2018). Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Gateway to Novel Treatment Approaches. – PubMed – NCBI. Retrieved 26 March 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30278095es: