Grand Rounds: Treatment Resistant Depression: Is there a Role for Ketamine?
An important area in the neurobiology of depression is the identification of novel medication approaches for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), in particular exploration outside of the traditional receptor targets, the serotonin and norephinephrine system. Glutamate modulators, including ketamine, are under intense study for TRD. Although there has been increased interest in ketamine as a potential treatment for depression, it is not yet approved for this indication by the Food and Drug Administration and it is unclear whether ketamine has utility in routine clinical practice. There has been burgeoning use of ketamine off-label for depression by clinical providers, including non-psychiatrists, even though it remains unclear if such use is safe or effective.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the major brain circuits involved in treatment-resistant depression
- Evaluate the evidence for ketamine as a treatment for resistant depression
- Evaluate potential and limitations of ketamine as an antidepressant for routine clinical practice
Dr. James Murrough is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Director of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Murrough conducts clinical and translational research aimed at understanding the biological basis of mood and anxiety disorders in order to point the way towards new, more effective treatments. His research includes functional brain imaging approaches to discover the mechanisms of rapidly acting antidepressants. Dr. Murrough received his Bachelor of Science in neuroscience and behavioral biology from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and his Medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA. He completed his residency training in Psychiatry at Mount Sinai and a research fellowship in experimental therapeutics and clinical neuroscience in mood disorders, also at Mount Sinai. Dr. Murrough has received research support from the National Institutes of Health, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. He is an Associate Member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.
Silver Hill Hospital is accredited by the Connecticut State Medical Society to sponsor medical education for physicians. Silver Hill Hospital designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 PRA Category 1 Credits TM . Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.
This event is full. Please email Anne Romano at aromano@silverhillhospital.org if you would like to be added to the waitlist.