Investigating the Neurobiological Basis of Ketamine’s Antidepressant and Dissociative Effects: Are They Independent Mechanisms?

Vitzilaios, Manousos (2025) Investigating the Neurobiological Basis of Ketamine’s Antidepressant and Dissociative Effects: Are They Independent Mechanisms? Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

Preview	Text bBIO2025ManousosVitzilaios.pdf Download (844kB) | Preview
	Text Toestemming.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (174kB)

Abstract

Depression presents a significant clinical challenge due to its high prevalence, treatment resistance, and the limitations of conventional therapies. This thesis investigates the neurobiological underpinnings of ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effects alongside its medically problematic dissociative properties, with the primary aim of determining whether these effects are mediated by independent mechanisms. A comprehensive review of the literature reveals that ketamine’s antidepressant effects involve several distinct mechanisms. One mechanism involves improved top-down regulation via enhanced connectivity between prefrontal and limbic regions, which contributes to better emotional regulation. Separately, ketamine’s action is also associated with increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), enhanced opioid signaling, and an upregulation of AMPA receptor activity. In contrast, ketamine-induced dissociation appears to arise primarily from disruptions in working memory and alterations in neural oscillatory patterns, particularly within the default mode network and related brain regions. While short-term correlations exist between dissociative and antidepressant effects, evidence suggests largely independent neurobiological mechanisms. This dissociation between therapeutic and dissociative effects provides a promising framework for developing novel compounds that retain ketamine’s antidepressant efficacy while minimizing its dissociative side effects.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Drion, C.M.
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	10 Apr 2025 07:47
Last Modified:	10 Apr 2025 07:47
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/35039

Actions (login required)

View Item