[Interest and mechanisms of action of ketamine in alcohol addiction- A review of clinical and preclinical studies].

Ketamine, an atypical psychedelic used for major depression, shows promise for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) by reducing withdrawal symptoms and alcohol craving. Preclinical and clinical studies indicate its antidepressant properties contribute to lower relapse likelihood, especially in ketamine-assisted psychotherapies. Effectiveness is linked to regulating glutamatergic pathways, enhancing neuroplasticity, and rewiring brain connectivity. However, sex differences in responses and the roles of ketamine metabolites require further investigation. Current research also examines ketamine addiction and the comorbidity of alcohol addiction and depression, which is more frequent in females.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by chronic and excessive drinking despite negative consequences on overall health and social or occupational functioning. There are currently limited treatment options available for AUD, and the effects size and the response rates to these treatments are often low to moderate. The World Health Organization has identified the development of medications to treat AUD as one of its 24 priorities. This past decade was marked by a renewed interest in psychedelic use in psychiatry. At the centre of this renaissance, ketamine, an atypical psychedelic already used in the treatment of major depression, is an NMDA receptor antagonist that exists as a racemic compound made of two enantiomers, S-ketamine, and R-ketamine. Each form can be metabolized into different metabolites, some of which having antidepressant properties. In this article, we review both clinical and preclinical studies on ketamine and its metabolites in the treatment of AUD. Preclinical as well as clinical studies have revealed that ketamine is effective in reducing withdrawal symptoms and alcohol craving. Convergent data showed that antidepressant properties of ketamine largely contribute to the decreased likelihood of alcohol relapse, especially in patients undergoing ketamine-assisted psychotherapies. Its effectiveness is believed to be linked with its ability to regulate the glutamatergic pathway, enhance neuroplasticity, rewire brain resting state network functional connectivity and decrease depressive-like states. However, it remains to further investigate (i) why strong differences exist between male and female responses in preclinical studies and (ii) the respective roles of each of the metabolites in the ketamine effects in both genders. Interestingly, current studies are also focusing on ketamine addiction and the comorbidity between alcohol addiction and depression occurring more frequently in females.