A new clinical trial strengthens the case that ketamine -- once famous as a club drug -- can rapidly ease suicidal thoughts.
Exactly how ketamine brings relief to people in deep distress is not fully clear. But researchers know the drug has brain targets that are different from standard antidepressants, and that includes boosting activity in a chemical called glutamate, which helps brain cells communicate with each other. Studies also suggest ketamine fosters the regrowth of synapses -- connections among brain cells that can be depleted in people with long-standing depression.
By day three, ketamine patients had double the rate of remission, meaning their suicidal thoughts had resolved. The difference was no longer statistically significant after six weeks, as patients in both groups were faring better: 69.5% of ketamine patients were in remission, as were 56% of placebo patients.
That's surprising because ketamine is generally given to people with severe depression, and not bipolar disorder, said Dr. Riccardo De Giorgi of the University of Oxford in England, who wrote"It may suggest that the biological and psychological mechanisms behind suicidal ideation perhaps differ between these two disorders -- an important avenue for further research," he said.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
DAOs: Where humans may fail, AI could succeedAre DAOs the next step forward towards a decentralized and non-hierarchical future? DotNever argues that once implemented, decentralized autonomous organizations could revolutionize the way we think about work.
Les mer »
Earth's Ancient 'Supermountains' May Have Been Crucial For Life as We Know ItOnce, there were giants. Mountain ranges that rivaled the Himalayas in height used to stretch thousands upon thousands of kilometers across the seams of merging supercontinents, billions of years in the past.
Les mer »
Apple’s new entry-level MacBook Pro may not include a ProMotion display | EngadgetBloomberg's Mark Gurman shared some tidbits of information about Apple's forthcoming entry-level MacBook Pro..
Les mer »
Family of Dallas Man May Proceed Over Dallas Death in CustodyThe family of Tony Timpa who died in police custody can proceed with their lawsuit against four officers.
Les mer »
US warns Russia may invade 'any day' as Kiev rejects apocalyptic scenariosUkraine pushes back at 'apocalyptic predictions' over a potential Russian invasion after officials in the US sounded dire warnings that Moscow stepped up its preparations for a major incursion
Les mer »