The Expanding Horizon of Ketamine and its Enantiomers: Beyond Anesthesia
Published 01 March, 2024
Ketamine is globally recognized for its extensive use as an anesthetic drug. However, in the late 20th century, it began to be misused recreationally due to its hallucinogenic and dissociative properties, prompting stricter regulatory measures. In recent years, ketamine has garnered renewed medical interest as a rapid-acting antidepressant, particularly effective in cases of treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine exists in two enantiomeric forms: S-ketamine (esketamine) and R-ketamine (arketamine). While esketamine is also used as an anesthetic, its nasal spray form has been approved in the US and Europe since 2019 for treating treatment-resistant depression. Meanwhile, arketamine has shown potential in rodent studies for inducing more robust and prolonged antidepressant-like effects compaed to esketamine. Submissions of both original and review articles concerning ketamine and its enantiomers are strongly encouraged.
Important deadlines
Submission opens: 1 April 2024
Submission deadline: 31 March 2025
Open access (OA) fee: Waived
Submission instructions
Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All submissions should be made through the online submission system.
Guest editors
Kenji Hashimoto, Ph.D.
Email: hashimoto@faculty.chiba-u.jp
Professor, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
Interests’ keywords: Neurobiology and therapeutic potential of the Anesthetics; Ketamine
Chun Yang, M.D. Ph.D.
Email: chunyang@njmu.edu.cn
Professor, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Interests’ keywords: anesthesia; pain; ketamine; depression; cognitive function