Eradicating Suicide at Its Roots: Preclinical Bases and Clinical Evidence of the Efficacy of Ketamine in the Treatment of Suicidal Behaviors
International Journal of Molecular Sciences September 23, 2018 Domenico de Berardis, Michele Fornaro, Alessandro Valchera et al. 171 citations
Suicide remains difficult to predict despite advances in neuroscience. The World Health Organization reports one million suicide deaths annually, with one every 40 seconds. Recent genomic studies suggest genetics influence suicide risk. Combining genomic and clinical assessments has identified biomarkers for suicidal ideation involved in neural connectivity, mood, and immune response, including the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. This provides a neurobiological basis for drugs like ketamine, an NMDA antagonist, which has shown rapid antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects. This review examines preclinical and clinical evidence for ketamine's efficacy in treating suicidal ideation in mood disorders, addressing the neurobiological processes of suicide and potential therapeutics.