Psychology
Neurobiological mechanisms of ketamine's rapid antidepressant action in treatment-resistant depression
Quick fact
A single subanesthetic dose of ketamine can produce antidepressant effects within hours that last up to a week, even in patients who haven't responded to multiple other treatments. It works by blocking NMDA receptors, which triggers a quick release of glutamate and activation of AMPA receptors, leading to a burst of new synaptic connections.
Why this is interesting
Most antidepressants take weeks to work—if they work at all. But a single dose of an anesthetic can ease severe depression within hours. How can that be possible?