New Research Reveals Some Secrets Behind Ketamine’s Ability To Treat Depression

Ketamine, once used frequently as a battlefield anesthetic during wartime and more recently as a club drug, has found new acclaim in its use to treat depression. Scientists and medical professionals have documented Ketamine’s ability to alleviate depressive symptoms in just hours, but didn’t really understand how it worked. Now new research hints at revealing the secret mechanism of action. In the most recent study, mice were injected with a stress hormone and then recorded exhibiting depressive symptoms such as refusing to eat in addition to recording the loss of synaptic connections in their brain. The mice were then given a dose of ketamine as investigators recorded surprising brain changes. The synaptic connections previously recorded, started to repair themselves after only twelve hours. In addition to repaired neuronal connections, the depressive symptoms that the mice had shown disappeared almost instantly. Ketamine therapy holds great promise in being able to quickly treat suicidal thoughts and depression, and this research helps uncover its secrets.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/04/11/712295937/ketamine-may-relieve-depression-by-repairing-damaged-brain-circuits

https://www.wired.com/story/lasers-highlight-ketamines-depression-fighting-secrets/amp

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Suicide Prevention

This post is from A Voice For Hope blog. Even though I already posted on World Suicide Prevention Day,  the poem moved me tremendously. I hope it touches all of you as well.

 

 

Abused and broken

Confused and withdrawn

Struggling…..wondering

Are all my dreams now gone?

 

The lives of my babies

Their mamma’s soul now torn

No money, home, or family

Wouldn’t they be better off on their own?

 

Can’t find hope for a future

Mine or theirs…..all alone

Life insurance and guardianship

Everyone’s better off if I move on.

 

The pills in my hand…..

Pain relief will come by dawn

Then a small voice pleads         Mamma keep on going,

I will help you be strong.

 

This voice gave me hope

Hope I thought was lost

Took and threw the pills away

Hugged my babies

And made a call.

 

When you have feelings like all hope is lost, pick up the phone and call 800-273-TALK. There is a voice. There is hope.