Daily Oral Ketamine for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety in Patients Receiving Hospice Care: A 28-Day Open-Label Proof-of-Concept Trial.
Daily Oral Ketamine for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety in Patients Receiving Hospice Care: A 28-Day Open-Label Proof-of-Concept Trial.
J Palliat Med. 2013 Jun 27;
Irwin SA, Iglewicz A, Nelesen RA, Lo JY, Carr CH, Romero SD, Lloyd LS
Abstract Background: Depression and anxiety are prevalent and undertreated in patients receiving hospice care. Standard antidepressants do not work rapidly or often enough to benefit most of these patients. Ketamine has many properties that make it an interesting candidate for rapidly treating depression and anxiety in patients receiving hospice care. To test this hypothesis, a 28-day, open-label, proof-of-concept trial of daily oral ketamine administration was conducted in order to evaluate the tolerability, potential efficacy, and time to potential efficacy in treating depression and anxiety in patients receiving hospice care. Methods: In this open-label study, 14 subjects with symptoms of depression or depression mixed with anxiety warranting psychopharmacological intervention received daily oral doses of ketamine hydrochloride (0.5?mg/kg) over a 28-day period. The primary outcome measure was the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), which was used to rate overall depression and anxiety symptoms at baseline, and on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Results: Over the 28-day trial there was significant improvement in both depressive symptoms (F5,35=8.03, p=0.002, ?(2)=0.534) and symptoms of anxiety (F5,35=14.275, p<0.001, ?(2)=0.67) for the eight subjects that completed the trial. One hundred percent of subjects completing the trial responded to ketamine for both anxiety and depression. A significant response in depressive symptoms occurred by day 14 for depression (mean ?=3.5, d=1.14, 95% CI=1.09-5.9, p=0.01) and day 3 for anxiety (mean ?=2.4, d=0.67, 95% CI=1.0-3.7, p=0.004). These improvements remained significant through day 28 for both depression (mean ?=4.0, d=1.34, 95% CI=2.3-5.9, p=0.001) and anxiety (mean ?=6.09, d=1.34, 95% CI=3.6-8.6, p<0.001). Side effects were rare, the most common being diarrhea, trouble sleeping, and trouble sitting still. Conclusions: Patients who received daily oral ketamine experienced a robust antidepressant and anxiolytic response with few adverse events. The response rate for depression is similar to those found with IV ketamine; however, the time to response is more protracted. The findings of the potential efficacy of oral ketamine for depression and the response of anxiety symptoms are novel. Further investigation with randomized, controlled clinical trials is necessary to firmly establish the efficacy and safety of oral ketamine for the treatment of depression and anxiety in patients receiving hospice care or other subject populations. %%T::7%%%%T::8%%HubMed - depression treatment%%T::9%%%%T::9%% %%T::9%% %%T::9%% %%T::9%%Environmental management procedures following fatal melioidosis in a captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).%%T::9%% %%T::10%%%%T::11%%J Zoo Wildl Med%%T::12%%. 2013 Jun; 44(2): 475-9%%T::13%%Sommanustweechai A, Kasantikul T, Somsa W, Wongratanacheewin S, Sermswan RW, Kongmakee P, Thomas W, Kamolnorranath S, Siriaroonrat B, Bush M, Banlunara W%%T::14%%A 40-yr-old male captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) presented with depression and anorexia for 7 days. The tentative diagnosis, following a physical examination under anesthesia, was pneumonia with sepsis. Despite antibiotic treatment and supportive care the chimpanzee died a week following presentation. Gross pathology confirmed severe purulent pneumonia and diffuse hepatosplenic abscesses. Detected in serum at the time of the initial examination, the melioidosis serum antibody titer was elevated (> 1:512). Soil samples were collected from three sites in the exhibit at three depths of 5, 15, and 30 cm. By direct and enrichment culture, positive cultures for Burkholderia pseudomallei were found at 5 and 15 cm in one site. The other two sites were positive by enrichment culture at the depth of 5 cm. To prevent disease in the remaining seven troop members, they were relocated to permit a soil treatment with calcium oxide. The exhibit remained empty for approximately 1 yr before the chimpanzees were returned. During that period, the soil in the exhibit area was again cultured as before and all samples were negative for B. pseudomallei. Following the soil treatment in the exhibit, all chimpanzees have remained free of clinical signs consistent with melioidosis. HubMed – depression treatment
Psychopathology and pain correlates of dispositional optimism in methadone-maintained patients.
Am J Addict. 2012 Nov; 21 Suppl 1: S56-62
Beitel M, Savant JD, Cutter CJ, Peters S, Belisle N, Barry DT
Background and Objectives: Although higher levels of dispositional optimism are associated with decreased levels of psychopathology and pain, and higher levels of mental health functioning-important outcomes in opioid treatment programs-a paucity of studies has examined dispositional optimism among individuals with opioid use disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical correlates (ie, psychopathology, pain status) of dispositional optimism in opioid dependent patients enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Methods: A survey targeting demographics, pain, psychopathology, and dispositional optimism was administered to 150 MMT patients. Results: In multivariable analyses, higher levels of dispositional optimism were significantly associated with lower levels of: depression, screened personality disorder criteria, screened symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, and pain-related emotional strain. In comparison to those without a history of chronic pain (ie, noncancer related physical pain lasting at least 3 months), MMT patients who reported either lifetime or current chronic pain exhibited significantly lower levels of dispositional optimism. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: The associations among higher levels of dispositional optimism, lower levels of psychopathology, and lower pain-related emotional strain suggest that research focusing on the efficacy of specific interventions to promote dispositional optimism in MMT patients is warranted. (Am J Addict 2012;21:S56-S62). HubMed – depression treatment
Correlates of Depressive Symptoms among Alcohol-Using Methadone Maintained Adults.
Am J Addict. 2012 Nov; 21 Suppl 1: S49-55
Nyamathi A, Albarrán CR, Branson C, Marfisee M, Khalilifard F, Leake B
Background: Alcohol-using clients are considered at great risk for hepatitis and ongoing liver damage. This study explores the correlates of depression among a sample of methadone maintained treatment (MMT) adults in the Los Angeles area, and is part of a larger study on hepatitis health promotion among MMT clients who use alcohol. Objectives: We sought to determine correlates of depressive symptoms among moderate and heavy alcohol-using adults enrolled in methadone maintenance. Methods: A cross-sectional correlation study was conducted of baseline data from a randomized control trial of adults (N= 189) receiving MMT in Los Angeles. Depressive symptoms were measured with the 10-item short-form CES-D. Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that pain and social support were key correlates of depressive symptoms. More pain was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms (p= .001), while more social support was related to lower depressive symptom severity (p= .001). Having been in sufficiently poor health that a blood transfusion, clotting factors, or an organ transplant was necessary was associated with greater depressive symptomatology, as was having injected drugs in the past month (p= .024). Conclusions: The findings from this investigation can aid clinicians in selecting clients to monitor for early signs of depression and encourage early treatment for opioid users with comorbidities. Scientific Significance: The use of an interdisciplinary team to care for MMT clients, routinely screen for depressive symptoms, and emphasize adequate pain control is indicated. (Am J Addict 2012;21:S49-S55). HubMed – depression treatment