News on treating depression
The latest news on treating depression is that an anaesthetic (ketamine) could potentially be used to treat depression, quickly and effectively (even in those who have resisted other treatments).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5253800.stm
At the moment this is still in its initial stages of research. Ketamine as it is now has dangerous side-effects such as hallucinations, and it would not be appropriate to give it to people affected by depression. However, it is something which might be of use in the future. It also sounds like it could be a useful treatment option for people who are acutely depressed or suicidal.
I’m left wondering how this sort of treatment would work for people with long-term depressive illnesses – for instance with the sort of people who are at the moment on anti-depressants for years or even for life.
Or maybe this is just a fleeting idea about the treatment of depression which will be forgotten and replaced with other ideas!
What do people think?
3 Comments
Kirsty
August 22, 2006I think this would require a lot more treatment, and also I wonder how effective it would be for everyone, what percentage of the population would benefit from its use.
With the serious side effects that it has at present, how can they guarantee that those are removed and so will effect no-one that the drug is used on?
I think it could be effective and a good method of treatment, however I have my doubts.
Kirsty
Em
August 15, 2006I’d agree with what Jennifer said as it’s clear that serious alterations need to be made to the drug before it can be used as treatment for depression; therefore, I’m not sure how safe it would actually be. Also, this type of treatment presumably only works with people who have depression caused by chemical inbalances (as the treatment is apparently going to be really quick to work). Therefore, it’s not going to be beneficial for those who have depression caused by life experiences etc.
Emma
Jennifer
August 11, 2006I’m not sure really about this. Ketamine is used as a horse anaesthetic which is why it’s so dangerous. Also, this is only on a trial of 17 people. I think it is too early to say whether this is a possible treatment, because it needs serious altering to be used as a medicine. And after the dangerous side effects have been addressed, I wonder whether it’ll actually have the same effect? I think for now, we just have to say “ok, this looks good but we want to know more so keep researching” type of thing. It’ll be interesting to see if it works on a wide pool of people and after the side effects have been removed…