Life
November 5, 2021
Mateusz Kowalczyk, Edward Kowalczyk, Paweł Kwiatkowski et al.
16 citations
The SARS-CoV-2 epidemic has increased the number of people experiencing depression, with about one third of the global population affected by mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety. S-ketamine, approved by the FDA in March 2019 for drug-resistant depression, offers a rapid antidepressant effect, reaching maximum effectiveness within 24 hours and possibly reducing suicidal thoughts. However, further research on its side effects is needed, particularly for individuals prone to psychosis or those using alcohol or psychoactive substances.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
December 28, 2025
Mateusz Kowalczyk, David Aebisher, Jakub Szpara et al.
3 citations
Depression is a common and potentially life-threatening disorder affecting over 300 million people worldwide, with major depressive disorder increasing suicide risk. Its causes involve genetic vulnerability, chronic stress, HPA axis dysregulation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired synaptic plasticity. This review synthesizes data on pharmacological treatments—including SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, and MAOIs—and emerging therapies targeting glutamatergic, GABAergic, and dopaminergic systems, such as ketamine, esketamine, dextromethorphan-bupropion, neurosteroids, and selective receptor modulators. It also covers non-pharmacological neuromodulation like TMS, tDCS, and photobiomodulation, integrating molecular mechanisms with depression pathophysiology to inform precise, multimodal treatment strategies.