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New studies zero in on roots of depression and why ketamine reverses it
[There's] been significant progress in unravelling the confusion over ketamine, with researchers identifying a ketamine derivative that tackles depression with far fewer side effects. And this week, a team of researchers at China's Zhejiang University announced that they've figured out where in the brain ketamine acts when it blocks depression, a finding that gives us significant insights into the biology of the disorder.
The new studies rely on the work of a number of other labs, which have identified a specific structure deep in the brain that's associated with depression. Called the lateral habenula, it's been associated with a variety of activities, the most relevant of which seems to be the processing of unpleasant outcomes and punishment. Electrodes implanted there have been used to relieve depression in at least one instance.
To test whether this might be the site of ketamine's activity, one team of researchers infused the drug directly into the lateral habenula of rats with depression-like symptoms; it blocked them. So did a separate chemical that inhibits the same proteins that ketamine acts on. Tracking the activity in the area, the researchers were able to show that there are bursts of activity in rats with symptoms of depression that are absent in healthy rats. The drugs that blocked depression suppressed these bursts.
Ketamine blocks bursting in the lateral habenula to rapidly relieve depression (DOI: 10.1038/nature25509) (DX)
Astroglial Kir4.1 in the lateral habenula drives neuronal bursts in depression (DOI: 10.1038/nature25752) (DX)
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(Score: 5, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 18 2018, @06:07PM (3 children)
Clinical Major Depression is not just a bad case of 'feeling down'.
I know anecdote is not the singular of data, but for those who have never experienced it, it can be hard to get your head around the concept.
I have no delusions that I can clearly articulate what so many other, more talented writers have attempted, but maybe my sharing some of my story may help someone else.
Having been sufficiently depressed that suicide seemed like a viable option, I'd like to share some of my personal experience in the hopes that it helps at least one person dispense with some common misconceptions.
Saying something like "Look on the bright side" or "just cheer up... thing's can't be that bad" is about as effective as telling a starving person to ignore their feeling of hunger.
What it was like:
I was fortunate to have an intervention which got me clinical help. In-patient therapy. (Colloquially: staying in the nut house.) Medications and sessions with a psychologist and with therapists slowly helped turn the tide. I found great help from CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and DBT Dialectical Behavior Therapy. I'd estimate it took me over two years time before I was back to something approaching 'normal'.
If this medication is even 10% as effective as these studies suggest, it could be a literal life saver.
That was many years ago and I am incredibly grateful that I have not reverted to that depth of despair, since. There have been times when things start trending downhill, but I have been to recognize the symptoms, now, and take steps to keep it from spiraling back out of control.
I have a whole host of friends, now. Most days, easily a dozen people see me and greet me by name, and with a smile. I know I could ask any one of them for help and they would be more than willing to lend a hand in whatever way they could. And, as this research suggests, there are more tools becoming available all the time.
tl;dr There is help available. If you know someone who is struggling, lend a hand. If YOU are struggling, reach out for help. There are countless resources available, if only one is willing to ask.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 18 2018, @06:43PM
For me, the worst part was always the inability to enjoy anything.
How many times have you had to perform some unpleasant task that you really don't want to do, and to motivate yourself you make a deal? Something like, "I'll clean the toilets, and afterwards I'll play a video game for a while." Well, when you're depressed, everything is an unpleasant task that you really don't want to do. So you make yourself lots of deals. Except your "reward" doesn't feel good. It doesn't make you happy. You know it should make you happy, but you feel nothing. And that, itself, makes you feel even worse.
Of course, this all feeds into self-loathing. I hate myself, because I'm basically defective. Because I hate myself, I want myself to suffer. I deserve to feel miserable; it's only right that I can't enjoy anything.
(Score: 2) by sbgen on Monday February 19 2018, @02:04AM
Looks like you have turned around a bend and backed away from the abyss. Hope you will keep moving positively to a better state of mind. As for Ketamine, it is a new tool and very fast acting effective one at that. Efforts are on to understand the mechanisms of function of various forms of the compound. This is not a medical opinion but that of a research scientist. There is hope indeed; how long before it is worked out is a different matter.
Warning: Not a computer expert, but got to use it. Yes, my kind does exist.
(Score: 1) by DBeemer on Wednesday February 21 2018, @10:08AM
Fortunately I don't suffer from depression, but my girlfriend does have times of serious depressions, where she openly talks about suicide being a viable solution.
All I can say is that when you have person close to you with such depression, do not ever give up on them. Stay with them and try to provide support.
This can be very hard and mentally wrecking for you as a support, but it will slowly help the person to get out of it.
From this I learned with my girlfriend, and please don't assume this will work for you, that I have to sort of break her to get her out of that mental state.
Fortunately we found out that her depressions mostly stem from a lack of exposure to the sun and we have it under control with a combination af vitamine b12, D and a daylight lamp.
She now tells me whenever she begins to feel down, so that we can take action to prevent the occurence of a new depression wave.