A Narrative Review: The Role that Ketamine May Play in the Treatment of Depression and the Underlying Mechanisms of Its Effect
BILT Student Research Journal 2025 - Issue 6 July 1, 2025 Sophie Höfels 1 citation
The antidepressant ketamine produces rapid improvements in mood, anhedonia, and suicidal ideation, unlike classic antidepressants such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. The exact neuropsychopharmacological mechanisms remain unknown, but emerging theories from human and animal studies—including neuroimaging and placebo-controlled crossover randomized trials—focus on neurotransmitter systems, synaptic effects, and changes in functional brain networks. This review concludes that a major mechanism underlying ketamine's antidepressant effects is the reversal of chronic stress pathology present in depression, while also discussing limitations of the evidence.