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Ketamine as a Novel Psychopharmacotherapy for Eating Disorders: Evidence and Future Directions.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ragnhildstveit, A; Slayton, M; Jackson, LK; Brendle, M; Ahuja, S; Holle, W; Moore, C; Sollars, K; Seli, P; Robison, R
Published in: Brain sciences
March 2022

Eating disorders (EDs) are serious, life-threatening psychiatric conditions associated with physical and psychosocial impairment, as well as high morbidity and mortality. Given the chronic refractory nature of EDs and the paucity of evidence-based treatments, there is a pressing need to identify novel approaches for this population. The noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) antagonist, ketamine, has recently been approved for treatment-resistant depression, exerting rapid and robust antidepressant effects. It is now being investigated for several new indications, including obsessive-compulsive, post-traumatic, and substance use disorder, and shows transdiagnostic potential for EDs, particularly among clinical nonresponders. Hence, the aim of this review is to examine contemporary findings on the treatment of EDs with ketamine, whether used as a primary, adjunctive, or combination psychopharmacotherapy. Avenues for future research are also discussed. Overall, results are encouraging and point to therapeutic value; however, are limited to case series and reports on anorexia nervosa. Further empirical research is thus needed to explore ketamine efficacy across ED subgroups, establish safety profiles and optimize dosing, and develop theory-driven, targeted treatment strategies at the individual patient level.

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Published In

Brain sciences

DOI

EISSN

2076-3425

ISSN

2076-3425

Publication Date

March 2022

Volume

12

Issue

3

Start / End Page

382

Related Subject Headings

  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 3209 Neurosciences
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1109 Neurosciences
 

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Ragnhildstveit, A., Slayton, M., Jackson, L. K., Brendle, M., Ahuja, S., Holle, W., … Robison, R. (2022). Ketamine as a Novel Psychopharmacotherapy for Eating Disorders: Evidence and Future Directions. Brain Sciences, 12(3), 382. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12030382
Ragnhildstveit, Anya, Matthew Slayton, Laura Kate Jackson, Madeline Brendle, Sachin Ahuja, Willis Holle, Claire Moore, Kellie Sollars, Paul Seli, and Reid Robison. “Ketamine as a Novel Psychopharmacotherapy for Eating Disorders: Evidence and Future Directions.Brain Sciences 12, no. 3 (March 2022): 382. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12030382.
Ragnhildstveit A, Slayton M, Jackson LK, Brendle M, Ahuja S, Holle W, et al. Ketamine as a Novel Psychopharmacotherapy for Eating Disorders: Evidence and Future Directions. Brain sciences. 2022 Mar;12(3):382.
Ragnhildstveit, Anya, et al. “Ketamine as a Novel Psychopharmacotherapy for Eating Disorders: Evidence and Future Directions.Brain Sciences, vol. 12, no. 3, Mar. 2022, p. 382. Epmc, doi:10.3390/brainsci12030382.
Ragnhildstveit A, Slayton M, Jackson LK, Brendle M, Ahuja S, Holle W, Moore C, Sollars K, Seli P, Robison R. Ketamine as a Novel Psychopharmacotherapy for Eating Disorders: Evidence and Future Directions. Brain sciences. 2022 Mar;12(3):382.

Published In

Brain sciences

DOI

EISSN

2076-3425

ISSN

2076-3425

Publication Date

March 2022

Volume

12

Issue

3

Start / End Page

382

Related Subject Headings

  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 3209 Neurosciences
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1109 Neurosciences