Ketamine, a drug once known mainly as an anesthetic and party drug, is now showing real promise in saving lives.
A new study from Columbia University found that it can quickly reduce suicidal thoughts and also help people think more clearly. This is especially important for people going through a mental health crisis where quick action is needed.
The research was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. It looked at 78 people who were all struggling with major depression and having serious thoughts about suicide. Each person was given one dose of ketamine through an IV. The researchers then observed how they felt and thought 24 hours later.
The results were promising. After just one dose, most people felt fewer suicidal thoughts. Even more interesting, their ability to think clearly and solve problems also improved. This clear thinking is important because when people are depressed and suicidal, they often can’t see their situation clearly.
They may feel trapped and unable to see any way out. By helping the brain work better, ketamine may give people the chance to find hope again.
What makes ketamine different is how fast it works. Traditional antidepressants usually take weeks to start working. But ketamine shows changes within hours. This means it could be useful in emergency situations, such as when someone is at immediate risk of hurting themselves. In such moments, a treatment that works quickly could be life-saving.
The study was led by Dr. John Mann and his team. They also compared ketamine to another drug called midazolam, which is sometimes used to treat anxiety and depression.
The comparison showed that ketamine helped people think more clearly than midazolam. People on ketamine were better at decision-making and reasoning, both of which are often harmed by depression.
Suicide is a serious problem in the United States and many other countries. In the U.S., it is the third leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 34 and the tenth leading cause overall.
Studies show that 90% of people who die by suicide have a mental illness, and more than half are going through a major depressive episode. This shows how important it is to find treatments that work fast and help people not just feel better but also think better.
Even though ketamine is not officially approved by the FDA to treat suicidal thoughts, many clinics in the U.S. already use it off-label. This means doctors are allowed to use it in ways not yet officially approved because they believe it helps.
This new study adds to growing research showing that ketamine can help not only with mood but also with how the brain works. When people can think more clearly, they are less likely to act on harmful thoughts. That makes this treatment especially important for people in crisis.
In the future, ketamine might become a regular part of how doctors help people who are feeling suicidal. By giving fast relief and improving brain function, it may help people survive their darkest moments and begin to recover.
If you care about health, please read studies that scientists find a core feature of depression and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
For more health information, please see recent studies about drug for mental health that may harm the brain, and results showing this therapy more effective than ketamine in treating severe depression.
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