Major depressive disorder is a chronic relapsing condition. Conventional antidepressants take weeks to work and are ineffective for many patients. The NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects, not only by blocking postsynaptic NMDA receptors or GABA interneurons but also by affecting AMPA receptors, adenosine A1 receptors, and L-type calcium channels. The 5-HT2A receptor agonist psilocybin has also shown potential for rapid antidepressant effects in mouse models and clinical studies. This review examines new pharmacological targets of emerging rapid-acting antidepressants like ketamine and hallucinogens (e.g., psilocybin) and discusses possible strategies for future antidepressant research.
Adding five-element music therapy and mindfulness meditation to standard care reduces cancer-related fatigue, anxiety, and depression in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma undergoing chemotherapy. In a retrospective study of 78 patients, those receiving the combined intervention showed lower physical, emotional, and cognitive fatigue; lower depression and anxiety scores; better sleep quality; longer sleep duration; improved treatment compliance; higher nursing satisfaction; and better overall quality of life compared with those receiving conventional care alone. The combination appears to be a useful non-drug adjunct in oncology care.