Mayo Clinic vs depression

• April 27, 2024

Intravenous administration of low doses of ketamine, an anesthetic commonly used in minor surgeries, over a long period of time is a very effective treatment for depression, the scientists found. Mayo Clinic

Ten years ago, scientists discovered that the ketamine it contained the potential to alleviate deep depression, but it entailed serious psychiatric side effects. Therefore, studies have tried to explore a safe way to use it.

"It's surprising that it works and also how quickly it does it," he says. Timothy Lineberry, co-author of the study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

"Sometimes, it works in a matter of hours to reduce the symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation, the goal is to begin to determine how this drug can be safely administered in the normal treatment," he says.

The scientists studied 10 patients with a major depression event, be it a major depressive disorder or a type of bipolar disorder, in whom at least two antidepressant medications had no effect.

The study reveals that the infusions of ketamine administered at lower speeds work just as well as those administered at higher speeds.

In the trial, patients received treatment up to twice a week and for a total of up to four treatments, through low-dose infusions of ketamine (0.5 mg / kg total dose) administered in 100 minutes, until the depression subsided.

The scientists controlled the side effects with two psychiatric scales: the Young's Scale for Mania Evaluation and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale.

Eight of the 10 patients showed an improvement of at least 50%. Five patients had complete remission of depression and four weeks after the study, two remained free of depression.

Regarding side effects, one patient had brief and limited hallucinations, while two presented only dizziness and lightheadedness during infusions.

An important point that still needs to be addressed is determining which patients will respond best to treatment.

"Although patients and doctors are excited about the potential of ketamine, we are aware that it is necessary to study more, before knowing which depressive conditions can be treated with ketamine safely in clinical practice," adds the doctor Lineberry.
 

Video Medicine: Mayo Clinic Minute: Sleep, Depression, PTSD (April 2024).