Ketamine for psychotic depression: An overview of the glutamatergic system and ketamine's mechanisms associated with antidepressant and psychotomimetic effects. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Le, Tuyen T.; Di Vincenzo, Joshua D.; Teopiz, Kayla M.; Lee, Yena; Cha, Danielle S.; Lui, Leanna M.W.; Rodrigues, Nelson B.; Ho, Roger C.; Cao, Bing; Lin, Kangguang; Nasri, Flora; Gill, Hartej; Lipsitz, Orly; Subramaniapillai, Mehala; Mansur, Rodrigo B.; Rosenblat, Joshua D.; McIntyre, Roger S.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 306(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Psychotic features -- Psychotic depression -- Depression -- Bipolar disorder -- Ketamine -- Schizophrenia; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114231
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: Glutamate dysfunction is implicated in the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. The mechanisms of action of ketamine involve multiple targets and signaling pathways. Ketamine improves symptoms in patients with major depression and psychotic features. Abstract: Approximately 0.35–1% of the general population is afflicted with psychotic depression at some time in their life. Psychotic depression is a subtype of major depressive disorder characterized by mood congruent hallucinations and/or delusions. Patients with psychotic depression often represent the most severe cases, with high relapse and mortality rate. Although treatment guidelines recommend a combination of antidepressants and antipsychotics or electroconvulsive therapy, most patients subsequently relapse due to treatment resistance. Furthermore, with the concern of antipsychotic drug's side effects (e.g., tardive dyskinesia), there is a need for an alternative pharmacotherapy for psychotic depression. Recently, several case studies demonstrated that treatment with ketamine not only ameliorated mood, but also improved psychotic symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression and psychotic features. However, the safety of ketamine in these patients is controversial since ketamine is known to induce psychotomimetic and dissociative effects. Additionally, the efficacy and safety of ketamine in patients with psychotic depression has not been established as most clinical trials have excluded these persons due to the theorized risk of aggravating psychotic symptoms. Notwithstanding, it is not established empirically that ketamine treatment in psychotic depression would predictably amplify psychotic symptoms and/or overall illness presentation. Future trials evaluating ketamine in depression should include patients with psychotic features to inform whether ketamine is safe and effective in this subpopulation