Ketamine for Treatment Resistant Mood Disorders and Neuroplasticity Daniel Blitch Dr. David Paltin PSY678 National University Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Mood Disorders Mood disorders, specifically depression, are the most common mental health problem facing the world today. Disorders have an objective scale to be scored under and classified, yet the physical manifestation within different patients are unique. Sometimes, however, the profound intricacies of a particular mood disorder cannot be treated in the same way that other typical prognoses through route of medication or dynamic therapy techniques. In the last decade, implementation of controlled dosages of ketamine under clinical supervision have yielded positive results supporting …show more content…
As with other drugs with sedative effects, in the coming decades it became a substance of abuse up to the 1980’s within dance and club culture around the world, and was officially classified as a Schedule I in early 2000. Since its restriction, clinical studies have been pioneered to determine psychiatric utility for mood disorders. Studies have shown that pure ketamine holds properties that control glutamate function in the brain. Ketamine responds to the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor of the brain which controls functions of glutamate in the brain as an antagonist. (“History of Ketamine”, …show more content…
Some side effects of ketamine include slowed breathing, delusions, fainting, nervousness or fatigue. Given its classification, there is speculation that there could be more serious side effects that have not yet been exhibited in controlled studies. Because of this, trials against a placebo are easily quashed as subjects would be able to tell if they are receiving refined ketamine medication over a sugar pill. Individuals with a history of substance abuse may not be a fit candidate for ketamine treatment considering its opiate classification and, therefore, likelihood of dependency and abuse. (Ketamine…