Zuzanna Antos

2 papers in the library · 23 citations · publishing 2024

Papers

Beyond NMDA Receptors: A Narrative Review of Ketamine's Rapid and Multifaceted Mechanisms in Depression Treatment.

International journal of molecular sciences December 20, 2024 Zuzanna Antos, Xawery Żukow, Laura Bursztynowicz et al. 14 citations

Ketamine shows rapid antidepressant effects primarily by blocking NMDA receptors, which reduces GABAergic inhibition and increases glutamate release. This activates AMPA receptors and downstream BDNF-TrkB and mTOR pathways, promoting synaptic growth and regeneration. Neuroimaging reveals changes in the Default Mode, Central Executive, and Salience networks—brain networks often disrupted in depression. The opioid system may play a permissive role in ketamine's effects, though ketamine is not a direct opioid agonist. Significant gaps remain in understanding its full mechanisms, safety, long-term efficacy, and how genetic factors like BDNF polymorphisms influence treatment response.

DOI: 10.3390/ijms252413658 Full text Ketamine Neuroplasticity Bdnf Nmda antagonist +7

Beyond Pharmacology: A Narrative Review of Alternative Therapies for Anxiety Disorders.

Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) September 16, 2024 Zuzanna Antos, Klaudia Zackiewicz, Natalia Tomaszek et al. 9 citations

Anxiety disorders harm quality of life, and standard drugs like benzodiazepines and antidepressants cause side effects, prompting a search for gentler alternatives. This review examined evidence for physical activity, mindfulness, virtual reality, biofeedback, herbal remedies, transcranial magnetic stimulation, cryotherapy, hyperbaric therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, MDMA, electroconvulsive therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. From 116 studies, the authors assessed which methods can support standard treatment or stand alone, weighing risks and benefits. Alternative treatments broaden options for patients and clinicians, often as adjuncts. Among them, mindfulness shows the most significant therapeutic potential.

DOI: 10.3390/diseases12090216 Full text PTSD Mindfulness Vr Alternative treatment +12