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Belge JB, Scantamburlo G, Constant E. Are ketamine and its enantiomers the answer to treatment-refractory depression? Expert Rev Neurother 2024; 24:827-830. [PMID: 38932620 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2024.2373302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Belge
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Psychoneuroendocrinology Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gabrielle Scantamburlo
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Psychoneuroendocrinology Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Eric Constant
- Department of neuropsychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Spécialisé Notre-Dame des Anges, Liège, Belgium
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2
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Haq R, Molteni L, Huneke NTM. The relationship between blinding integrity and medication efficacy in randomised-controlled trials in patients with anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2024. [PMID: 39126319 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blinding is thought to minimise expectancy effects and biases in double-blind randomised-controlled trials (RCTs). However, whether blinding integrity should be assessed and reported remains debated. Furthermore, it is unknown whether blinding failure influences the outcome of RCTs in anxiety disorders. We carried out a systematic review to understand whether blinding integrity is assessed and reported in anxiolytic RCTs. A secondary aim was to explore whether blinding integrity is associated with treatment efficacy. METHOD Our protocol was pre-registered (PROSPERO CRD42022328750). We searched electronic databases for placebo-controlled, randomised trials of medication in adults with generalised and social anxiety disorders, and in panic disorder, from 1980. We extracted data regarding blinding integrity and treatment efficacy. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Where possible, we subsequently calculated Bang's Blinding Index, and assessed the association between blinding integrity and treatment effect size. RESULTS Of the 248 RCTs that met inclusion criteria, we were able to obtain assessments of blinding integrity from nine (3.63%). Overall, blinding failed in five of these trials (55.56%), but blinding was intact in 80% of placebo arms. We found a significant association between reduced blinding integrity among assessors and increased treatment effect size (betas < -6.50, p's < 0.001), but this analysis involved only four studies of which two were outlying studies. In patients, we saw a non-significant trend where reduced blinding integrity in the placebo groups was associated with increased treatment efficacy, which was not present in active medication arms. CONCLUSION Consistent with work in other psychiatric disorders, blinding integrity is rarely reported in anxiolytic RCTs. Where it is reported, blinding appears to often fail. We found signals that suggest unblinding of clinician assessors (driven by two studies with complete unblinding), and of patients in placebo arms, might be associated with larger treatment effect sizes. We recommend that data regarding blinding integrity, along with the reasons patients and assessors offer for their beliefs regarding group allocation, are systematically collected in RCTs of anxiolytic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqayyah Haq
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Laura Molteni
- General Adult Psychiatry, Southern Health National Health Service Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
- University Department of Psychiatry, Academic Centre, College Keep, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Nathan T M Huneke
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- General Adult Psychiatry, Southern Health National Health Service Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
- University Department of Psychiatry, Academic Centre, College Keep, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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3
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Pan Y, Gorenflo MP, Davis PB, Kaelber DC, De Luca S, Xu R. Suicidal ideation following ketamine prescription in patients with recurrent major depressive disorder: a nation-wide cohort study. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:327. [PMID: 39122686 PMCID: PMC11315997 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03033-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ketamine has gained attention for its effective treatment for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicidal ideation; Despite numerous studies presenting the rapid efficacy, long-term benefit in real-world populations remains poorly characterized. This is a retrospective cohort study using TriNetX US Collaborative Network, a platform aggregating electronic health records (EHRs) data from 108 million patients from 62 health care organizations in the US, and the study population includes 514,988 patients with a diagnosis of recurrent MDD who were prescribed relevant treatment in their EHRs. The prescription of ketamine was associated with significantly decreased risk of suicidal ideation compared to the prescription of other common antidepressants: HR = 0.63 (95% CI: 0.53-0.76) at 1 day - 7 days, 0.67 (95% CI: 0.59-0.77) at 1 day - 30 days, 0.69 (95% CI: 0.62-0.77) at 1 day - 90 days, 0.74 (95% CI: 0.67-0.81) at 1 day - 180 days, and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.69-0.83) at 1 day - 270 days. This trend was especially robust among adults over 24 years of age, females, males, and White patients with recurrent MDD. This study provides real-world evidence that ketamine has long-term benefits in mitigating suicidal ideation in patients with recurrent MDD. Future work should focus on optimizing dosage regimens for ketamine, understanding the mechanism, and the difference in various demographic subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiheng Pan
- Center for Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Computer and Data Science, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Maria P Gorenflo
- Center for Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Pamela B Davis
- Center for Community Health Integration, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - David C Kaelber
- Center for Clinical Informatics Research and Education, The MetroHealth System, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Susan De Luca
- Population Health Research Institute, The MetroHealth System, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Rong Xu
- Center for Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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4
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Brenna CTA, Goldstein BI, Zarate CA, Orser BA. Repurposing General Anesthetic Drugs to Treat Depression: A New Frontier for Anesthesiologists in Neuropsychiatric Care. Anesthesiology 2024; 141:222-237. [PMID: 38856663 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000005037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
During the last 100 years, the role of anesthesiologists in psychiatry has focused primarily on facilitating electroconvulsive therapy and mitigating postoperative delirium and other perioperative neurocognitive disorders. The discovery of the rapid and sustained antidepressant properties of ketamine, and early results suggesting that other general anesthetic drugs (including nitrous oxide, propofol, and isoflurane) have antidepressant properties, has positioned anesthesiologists at a new frontier in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Moreover, shared interest in understanding the biologic underpinnings of anesthetic drugs as psychotropic agents is eroding traditional academic boundaries between anesthesiology and psychiatry. This article presents a brief overview of anesthetic drugs as novel antidepressants and identifies promising future candidates for the treatment of depression. The authors issue a call to action and outline strategies to foster collaborations between anesthesiologists and psychiatrists as they work toward the common goals of repurposing anesthetic drugs as antidepressants and addressing mood disorders in surgical patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor T A Brenna
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine and Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Perioperative Brain Health Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada
| | - Benjamin I Goldstein
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Carlos A Zarate
- Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Beverley A Orser
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine and Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Perioperative Brain Health Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada
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5
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Dahan A, Jansen S, van der Schrier R, Sarton E, Dadiomov D, van Velzen M, Olofsen E, Niesters M. Nitric Oxide Donor Sodium Nitroprusside Reduces Racemic Ketamine-But Not Esketamine-Induced Pain Relief. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:2044-2053. [PMID: 39022368 PMCID: PMC11249631 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.4c00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
The anesthetic, analgesic and antidepressant drug ketamine produces dissociation with symptoms of psychosis and anxiety, an effect attributed to neuronal nitric oxide depletion following N-methyl-d-aspartate blockade. There is evidence that dissociation induced by racemic ketamine, containing both ketamine enantiomers (S- and R-ketamine) but not esketamine (the S-isomer) is inhibited by nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP). We tested whether a similar intervention would reduce racemic and esketamine-induced analgesia in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Seventeen healthy volunteers were treated with 0.5 μg.kg-1.min-1 SNP or placebo during a 3-h infusion of escalating doses of racemic ketamine (total dose 140 mg) or esketamine (70 mg). Pain pressure threshold (PPT) and arterial blood samples for measurement of S- and R-ketamine and their metabolites, S- and R-norketamine, were obtained. The data were analyzed with a population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model that incorporated the measured S- and R- ketamine and S- and R-norketamine isomers as input and PPT as output to the model. The potency of the 2 formulations in increasing PPT from baseline by 100% was 0.47 ± 0.12 (median ± standard error of the estimate) nmol/mL for esketamine and 0.62 ± 0.19 nmol/mL for racemic ketamine, reflecting the 52 ± 27% lower analgesic potency of R-ketamine versus S-ketamine. Modeling showed that SNP had no effect on S-ketamine potency but abolished the R-ketamine analgesic effect. Similar observations were made for S- and R-norketamine. Since SNP had no effect on S-ketamine analgesia, we conclude that SNP interacts on R-ketamine nociceptive pathways, possibly similar to its effects on R-ketamine activated dissociation pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Dahan
- Department
of Anesthesiology, Leiden University Medical
Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
- PainLess
Foundation, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Outcomes
Research Consortium, Cleveland, Ohio 90089, United States
| | - Simone Jansen
- Department
of Anesthesiology, Leiden University Medical
Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rutger van der Schrier
- Department
of Anesthesiology, Leiden University Medical
Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Elise Sarton
- Department
of Anesthesiology, Leiden University Medical
Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - David Dadiomov
- USC
Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Titus
Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Monique van Velzen
- Department
of Anesthesiology, Leiden University Medical
Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Olofsen
- Department
of Anesthesiology, Leiden University Medical
Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Niesters
- Department
of Anesthesiology, Leiden University Medical
Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
- PainLess
Foundation, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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6
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Hietamies TM, Smith AE, Lii TR, Muzzall E, Flohr J, Okada RL, Andriella ZG, Nyongesa CA, Cianfichi LJ, Hack LM, Heifets BD. Prevalence and characteristics of preoperative patients with depression. Br J Anaesth 2024; 133:77-85. [PMID: 38782617 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2024.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Within the perioperative period, depression-related diagnoses are associated with postoperative complications. We developed a perioperative depression screening programme to assess disease prevalence and feasibility for intervention. METHODS Adult patients in multiple surgical departments at a single academic centre were screened for depression via the electronic health record patient portal or preoperative anaesthesia clinic before surgery, using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-2 and -8. We utilised a broad method, screening all patients, and a focused method, only screening patients with a history of depression. Logistic regression was used to identify characteristics associated with clinically significant depression (PHQ-8 ≥10). Symptomatic patients were administered a brief psychoeducational intervention and referred for mental health services. RESULTS A total of 3735 patients were identified by the broad and focused screens, of whom 2940 (79%) returned PHQ-2 data and were included in analysis. The broad screen (N=1216) found 46 (4%) patients who reported symptoms of moderate or greater severity. The focused screen (N=1724) found 242 (14%) patients with symptoms of moderate or greater severity and over all higher rates of depression across the symptom severity scale. Using the total screened pool, logistic regression identified a history of depression as the strongest associated patient characteristic variable but this did not capture most cases. Finally, we found that 66% of patients who were contacted about mental health services accepted referrals or sought outside care. CONCLUSIONS At least 4% of preoperative patients have clinically significant symptoms of depression, most of whom do not have a chart history of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuuli M Hietamies
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ashleigh E Smith
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Theresa R Lii
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Evan Muzzall
- Software and Services for Data Science, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Josephine Flohr
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Robin L Okada
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zachary G Andriella
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cynthia A Nyongesa
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lisa J Cianfichi
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Laura M Hack
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Boris D Heifets
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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7
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Liu JJ, Ein N, Gervasio J, Baker C, Plouffe R, Wanklyn S, Burhan AM, Lau B, Abreu E, Wasiuta T, Nazarov A, Richardson JD. Ketamine in the effective management of chronic pain, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder for Veterans: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1338581. [PMID: 38979497 PMCID: PMC11228764 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1338581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Ketamine has emerged as a promising treatment alternative for the management of chronic pain. Despite encouraging findings in civilian populations, and favourable results from trials examining its efficacy in military populations, there is still a dearth of information pointing to optimal specifications related to ketamine administration for pain, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military populations. This meta-analysis and systematic review synthesised available evidence on the effectiveness, tolerability, and feasibility of ketamine in the management of chronic pain and mental health conditions in military populations. Methods This review followed the Cochrane's Guide for systematic reviews of interventions and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) as frameworks for data collection and synthesis. Results A total of 11 studies and 22 independent samples were retained for data analyses. Across samples, improvements in pain, depression, and PTSD outcomes were evident, with the use of ketamine leading to significant reductions, g = 1.76, SE = 0.19, 95% CI (1.39, 2.13), Z = 9.26, p <.001. These effect sizes were robust with moderate-to-large effects. In addition, the reductions in symptoms were observed in both active-duty and Veteran groups, and for different routes of ketamine administration, frequencies of ketamine administration, duration of ketamine treatments, dosage, study design, and allowance for concurrent treatments. Discussion This review provides a preliminary synthesis of available evidence which suggests that ketamine may be a potential option for the treatment of depression, PTSD, and chronic pain in military populations. The viability of ketamine as an alternative treatment may be particularly impactful for those who are treatment resistant, experience chronic symptoms, and/or have exhausted conventional treatments. More research is warranted in order verify the findings presented in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny J.W. Liu
- MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, Canada
| | - Natalie Ein
- MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Julia Gervasio
- MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, Canada
| | - Clara Baker
- MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, Canada
| | - Rachel Plouffe
- MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, Canada
- Division of Psychology, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Sonya Wanklyn
- MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, Canada
- Operational Stress Injury Clinic, St Joseph’s Health Care, London, ON, Canada
| | - Amer M. Burhan
- MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, Canada
- Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Whitby, ON, Canada
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brenda Lau
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Change Pain Clinic, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Abreu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Change Pain Clinic, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Thomas Wasiuta
- MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Operational Stress Injury Clinic, St Joseph’s Health Care, London, ON, Canada
| | - Anthony Nazarov
- MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - J. Don Richardson
- MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Operational Stress Injury Clinic, St Joseph’s Health Care, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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8
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Shafique H, Demers JC, Biesiada J, Golani LK, Cerne R, Smith JL, Szostak M, Witkin JM. ( R)-(-)-Ketamine: The Promise of a Novel Treatment for Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6804. [PMID: 38928508 PMCID: PMC11203826 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
NMDA receptor antagonists have potential for therapeutics in neurological and psychiatric diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse disorder (SUD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). (S)-ketamine was the first of a novel class of antidepressants, rapid-acting antidepressants, to be approved for medical use. The stereoisomer, (R)-ketamine (arketamine), is currently under development for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The compound has demonstrated efficacy in multiple animal models. Two clinical studies disclosed efficacy in TRD and bipolar depression. A study by the drug sponsor recently failed to reach a priori clinical endpoints but post hoc analysis revealed efficacy. The clinical value of (R)-ketamine is supported by experimental data in humans and rodents, showing that it is less sedating, does not produce marked psychotomimetic or dissociative effects, has less abuse potential than (S)-ketamine, and produces efficacy in animal models of a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The mechanisms of action of the antidepressant effects of (R)-ketamine are hypothesized to be due to NMDA receptor antagonism and/or non-NMDA receptor mechanisms. We suggest that further clinical experimentation with (R)-ketamine will create novel and improved medicines for some of the neurological and psychiatric disorders that are underserved by current medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Shafique
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Julie C. Demers
- Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (J.C.D.); (J.B.)
| | - Julia Biesiada
- Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (J.C.D.); (J.B.)
| | - Lalit K. Golani
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Rok Cerne
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN 46260, USA; (R.C.); (J.L.S.)
| | - Jodi L. Smith
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN 46260, USA; (R.C.); (J.L.S.)
| | - Marta Szostak
- Department of Psychology, SWPS University, 03-815 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Jeffrey M. Witkin
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN 46260, USA; (R.C.); (J.L.S.)
- Departments of Neuroscience and Trauma Research, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN 46260, USA
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9
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Szigeti B, Heifets BD. Expectancy Effects in Psychedelic Trials. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024; 9:512-521. [PMID: 38387698 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Clinical trials of psychedelic compounds like psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and N,N-dimethyltrptamine (DMT) have forced a reconsideration of how nondrug factors, such as participant expectations, are measured and controlled in mental health research. As doses of these profoundly psychoactive substances increase, so does the difficulty in concealing the treatment condition in the classic double-blind, placebo-controlled trial design. As widespread public enthusiasm for the promise of psychedelic therapy grows, so do questions regarding whether and how much trial results are biased by positive expectancy. First, we review the key concepts related to expectancy and its measurement. Then, we review expectancy effects that have been reported in both micro- and macrodose psychedelic trials from the modern era. Finally, we consider expectancy as a discrete physiological process that can be independent of, or even interact with, the drug effect. Expectancy effects can be harnessed to improve treatment outcomes and can also be actively managed in controlled studies to enhance the rigor and generalizability of future psychedelic trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Szigeti
- Translational Psychedelic Research Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Boris D Heifets
- Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California; Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
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10
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Sandström K, Kampman O, Asellus P. A retrospective analysis of iv ketamine outcome on hospitalisations in an unselected psychiatric sample. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2024:1-7. [PMID: 38659205 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2024.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the outcome with iv ketamine treatment in a real-world clinical setting, primarily measured as posttreatment days hospitalised. METHODS The psychiatric medical records of 46 patients having received iv ketamine on a psychiatric treatment indication between 2015 and 2018 were retrospectively examined. Analysis comparing the number and duration of hospital admissions before and after ketamine treatment as well as logistic regression analysis to investigate clinical predictors of effectiveness, were performed. To assess patients' severity of depressed symptoms records were screened for MADRS-S scores. RESULTS No significant difference between pre- and posttreatment hospital days (p = 0.170), or number of hospitalisations (p = 0.740) were found. The response rate was 31% and remission rate 21%. None of the predictors showed statistical significance in the logistic model. CONCLUSION Iv ketamine treatment showed effectiveness in reducing depressive symptoms even with complex patients in a real-world clinical setting. However, this did not translate to a reduction in hospitalisation. Highlighting the multifaceted challenges posed when implementing iv ketamine treatment in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl Sandström
- Department of Clinical Sciences (Psychiatry), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Olli Kampman
- Department of Clinical Sciences (Psychiatry), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine (Psychiatry), University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, The Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, The Pirkanmaa Wellbeing Services County, Tampere, Finland
| | - Peter Asellus
- Department of Clinical Sciences (Psychiatry), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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11
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Tong X, Zhao K, Fonzo GA, Xie H, Carlisle NB, Keller CJ, Oathes DJ, Sheline Y, Nemeroff CB, Williams LM, Trivedi M, Etkin A, Zhang Y. Optimizing Antidepressant Efficacy: Multimodal Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Prediction of Treatment Response. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.04.11.24305583. [PMID: 38645124 PMCID: PMC11030479 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.11.24305583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and often severe condition that profoundly diminishes quality of life for individuals across ages and demographic groups. Unfortunately, current antidepressant and psychotherapeutic treatments exhibit limited efficacy and unsatisfactory response rates in a substantial number of patients. The development of effective therapies for MDD is hindered by the insufficiently understood heterogeneity within the disorder and its elusive underlying mechanisms. To address these challenges, we present a target-oriented multimodal fusion framework that robustly predicts antidepressant response by integrating structural and functional connectivity data (sertraline: R2 = 0.31; placebo: R2 = 0.22). Through the model, we identify multimodal neuroimaging biomarkers of antidepressant response and observe that sertraline and placebo show distinct predictive patterns. We further decompose the overall predictive patterns into constitutive network constellations with generalizable structural-functional co-variation, which exhibit treatment-specific association with personality traits and behavioral/cognitive task performance. Our innovative and interpretable multimodal framework provides novel insights into the intricate neuropsychopharmacology of antidepressant treatment and paves the way for advances in precision medicine and development of more targeted antidepressant therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Tong
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Kanhao Zhao
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Gregory A. Fonzo
- Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Hua Xie
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Corey J. Keller
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Sierra-Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Desmond J. Oathes
- Center for Brain Imaging and Stimulation, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yvette Sheline
- Center for Neuromodulation in Depression and Stress, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Charles B. Nemeroff
- Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Leanne M. Williams
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Sierra-Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Madhukar Trivedi
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Amit Etkin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Alto Neuroscience, Inc., Los Altos, CA, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
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12
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Rolfzen ML, Palanca BJA, Bartels K. Rethinking ketamine as a panacea: adverse effects on oxygenation and postoperative outcomes. Br J Anaesth 2024; 132:635-638. [PMID: 38272733 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2023.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Ketamine is receiving renewed interest in perioperative medicine as an anaesthetic adjunct and a treatment for chronic conditions, including depression. Ketamine's complex pharmacologic profile results not only in several desirable effects, such as anaesthesia and analgesia, but also multiple adverse effects affecting the central nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. In addition to defining patient-centred outcomes in future clinical studies on the perioperative uses of ketamine, careful monitoring for its numerous adverse effects will be paramount.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Rolfzen
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ben Julian A Palanca
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Karsten Bartels
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Outcomes Research Consortium, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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13
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Danyeli LV, Sen ZD, Colic L, Opel N, Refisch A, Blekic N, Macharadze T, Kretzschmar M, Munk MJ, Gaser C, Speck O, Walter M, Li M. Cortical thickness of the posterior cingulate cortex is associated with the ketamine-induced altered sense of self: An ultra-high field MRI study. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 172:136-143. [PMID: 38382237 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Subanesthetic doses of ketamine induce an antidepressant effect within hours in individuals with treatment-resistant depression while it furthermore induces immediate but transient psychotomimetic effects. Among these psychotomimetic effects, an altered sense of self has specifically been associated with the antidepressant response to ketamine as well as psychedelics. However, there is plenty of variation in the extent of the drug-induced altered sense of self experience that might be explained by differences in basal morphological characteristics, such as cortical thickness. Regions that have been previously associated with a psychedelics-induced sense of self and with ketamine's mechanism of action, are the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC). In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over magnetic resonance imaging study, thirty-five healthy male participants (mean age ± standard deviation (SD) = 25.1 ± 4.2 years) were scanned at 7 T. We investigated whether the cortical thickness of two DMN regions, the PCC and the pgACC, are associated with disembodiment and experience of unity scores, which were used to index the ketamine-induced altered sense of self. We observed a negative correlation between the PCC cortical thickness and the disembodiment scores (R = -0.54, p < 0.001). In contrast, no significant association was found between the pgACC cortical thickness and the ketamine-induced altered sense of self. In the context of the existing literature, our findings highlight the importance of the PCC as a structure involved in the mechanism of ketamine-induced altered sense of self that seems to be shared with different antidepressant agents with psychotomimetic effects operating on different classes of transmitter systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Vera Danyeli
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Clinical Affective Neuroimaging Laboratory (CANLAB), Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Zümrüt Duygu Sen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Clinical Affective Neuroimaging Laboratory (CANLAB), Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lejla Colic
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Nils Opel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Refisch
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Nikolai Blekic
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Clinical Affective Neuroimaging Laboratory (CANLAB), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tamar Macharadze
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; Department Systems Physiology of Learning, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Moritz Kretzschmar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - MatthiasH J Munk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Systems Neurophysiology, Department of Biology, Darmstadt University of Technology, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christian Gaser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Oliver Speck
- Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Martin Walter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Clinical Affective Neuroimaging Laboratory (CANLAB), Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Meng Li
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Clinical Affective Neuroimaging Laboratory (CANLAB), Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany.
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14
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Barksdale BR, Doss MK, Fonzo GA, Nemeroff CB. The mechanistic divide in psychedelic neuroscience: An unbridgeable gap? Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00322. [PMID: 38278658 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, psychedelics have generated considerable excitement and interest as potential novel therapeutics for an array of conditions, with the most advanced evidence base in the treatment of certain severe and/or treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. An array of clinical and pre-clinical evidence has informed our current understanding of how psychedelics produce profound alterations in consciousness. Mechanisms of psychedelic action include receptor binding and downstream cellular and transcriptional pathways, with long-term impacts on brain structure and function-from the level of single neurons to large-scale circuits. In this perspective, we first briefly review and synthesize separate lines of research on potential mechanistic processes underlying the acute and long-term effects of psychedelic compounds, with a particular emphasis on highlighting current theoretical models of psychedelic drug action and their relationships to therapeutic benefits for psychiatric and brain-based disorders. We then highlight an existing area of ongoing controversy we argue is directly informed by theoretical models originating from disparate levels of inquiry, and we ultimately converge on the notion that bridging the current chasm in explanatory models of psychedelic drug action across levels of inquiry (molecular, cellular, circuit, and psychological/behavioral) through innovative methods and collaborative efforts will ultimately yield the comprehensive understanding needed to fully capitalize on the potential therapeutic properties of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan R Barksdale
- Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Manoj K Doss
- Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Gregory A Fonzo
- Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Charles B Nemeroff
- Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA.
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15
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Zheng H, Zhang P, Shi S, Zhang X, Cai Q, Gong X. Sub-anesthetic dose of esketamine decreases postoperative opioid self-administration after spine surgery: a retrospective cohort analysis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3909. [PMID: 38365958 PMCID: PMC10873399 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54617-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of intraoperative sub-anesthetic esketamine for postoperative analgesia is controversial. In this study, the impact of sub-anesthetic esketamine on postoperative opioid self-administration was determined. Patients who underwent spinal surgery with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) from January 2019 to December 2021 were respectively screened for analysis. Postoperative PCA was compared between patients who received a sub-anesthetic esketamine dose and patients who were not treated with esketamine (non-esketamine group) with or without propensity score matching. Negative binomial regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with postoperative PCA. Patients who received intraoperative sub-anesthetic esketamine self-administered less PCA (P = 0.001). Azasetron, esketamine, and dexamethasone lowered the self-administration of PCA (IRR with 95% confidential interval, 0.789 [0.624, 0.993]; 0.581 [0.458, 0.741]; and 0.777 [0.627, 0.959], respectively). Fixation surgery and drinking were risk factors for postoperative PCA (1.737 [1.373, 2.188] and 1.332 [1.032, 1.737] for fixation surgery and drinking, respectively). An intraoperative sub-anesthetic dose of esketamine decreases postoperative opioid self-administration. Azasetron and dexamethasone also decrease postoperative opioid consumption. The study is registered at www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2300068733).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Zheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institution of Neuroscience and Brain Disease, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Emergency, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, China
| | - Shengnan Shi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institution of Neuroscience and Brain Disease, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institution of Neuroscience and Brain Disease, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, China
| | - Qiang Cai
- Department of Orthopedics, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China.
| | - Xingrui Gong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institution of Neuroscience and Brain Disease, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei, China.
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16
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De Filippo R, Schmitz D. Synthetic surprise as the foundation of the psychedelic experience. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 157:105538. [PMID: 38220035 PMCID: PMC10839673 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Psychedelic agents, such as LSD and psilocybin, induce marked alterations in consciousness via activation of the 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2ARs). We hypothesize that psychedelics enforce a state of synthetic surprise through the biased activation of the 5-HTRs system. This idea is informed by recent insights into the role of 5-HT in signaling surprise. The effects on consciousness, explained by the cognitive penetrability of perception, can be described within the predictive coding framework where surprise corresponds to prediction error, the mismatch between predictions and actual sensory input. Crucially, the precision afforded to the prediction error determines its effect on priors, enabling a dynamic interaction between top-down expectations and incoming sensory data. By integrating recent findings on predictive coding circuitry and 5-HT2ARs transcriptomic data, we propose a biological implementation with emphasis on the role of inhibitory interneurons. Implications arise for the clinical use of psychedelics, which may rely primarily on their inherent capacity to induce surprise in order to disrupt maladaptive patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto De Filippo
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Dietmar Schmitz
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Einstein Center for Neuroscience, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Philippstr. 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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17
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Fordyce BA, Roth BL. Making Sense of Psychedelics in the CNS. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2024; 27:pyae007. [PMID: 38289825 PMCID: PMC10888522 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
For centuries, ancient lineages have consumed psychedelic compounds from natural sources. In the modern era, scientists have since harnessed the power of computational tools, cellular assays, and behavioral metrics to study how these compounds instigate changes on molecular, cellular, circuit-wide, and system levels. Here, we provide a brief history of psychedelics and their use in science, medicine, and culture. We then outline current techniques for studying psychedelics from a pharmacological perspective. Finally, we address known gaps in the field and potential avenues of further research to broaden our collective understanding of physiological changes induced by psychedelics, the limits of their therapeutic capabilities, and how researchers can improve and inform treatments that are rapidly becoming accessible worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake A Fordyce
- Department of Neuroscience, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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