The Use of Ketamine as Therapy for Depression

Abstract

Depressive disorder is still a significant problem in several developed countries and is morbidity caused by mental disorders. With the development of science, now discovered the unique pharmacodynamic properties of ketamine, which is used as an antidepressant. As we know in clinical practice, ketamine is used for anaesthesia, analgesia, sedation, and chronic pain management. Rapid-onset antidepressants resulted from increased levels of BDNF in the hippocampus. Extracellular glutamate agents are not new for the treatment of depression. According to the neurobiology view, depression is a monoaminergic phenomenon, so this is the impetus for discovering a new generation of antidepressants. Ketamine can be given intravenously in subanesthetic doses. Still, monitoring must be carrying in therapy administration because of the possible side effects such as hypersalivation, tachycardia, increased systemic arterial pressure, and intracranial pressure.