No time to lose: the current state of research in rapid-acting psychotherapeutics
Neuropsychopharmacology January 1, 2024 Joshua A. Gordon, Nora D. Volkow, George F. Koob
Most treatments for psychiatric and substance use disorders require weeks to become effective, but some, like intravenous ketamine, can relieve symptoms within minutes to hours. Current research aims to discover new rapid-acting psychotherapeutics, including novel drug classes and innovative brain stimulation therapies, which are being studied in clinical and pre-clinical settings. Further investigation into the neurobiological mechanisms, effective therapeutic contexts, and implementation strategies is needed to fully realize the potential of these treatments.