"Unveiling Ketamine's Role in Mental Health Treatment: From Rave Drug to Depression Therapy"

A study published in Translational Psychiatry has revealed that the brain's opioid system plays a crucial role in mediating ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects. The research demonstrated that ketamine activates the endogenous opioid system in the prefrontal cortex, and disrupting this signaling blocks ketamine's antidepressant-like effects in rats. The study also found that ketamine treatment led to a significant increase in β-endorphin levels in the prefrontal cortex, and neutralizing β-endorphin action nullified the antidepressant-like effects of ketamine. These findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms of ketamine's antidepressant effects and suggest potential therapeutic targets for depression.