Citation

Sharafi AM, Pakkhesal S, Fakhari A, Khajehnasiri N, Ahmadalipour A. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 2022; 137: e104635.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104635

PMID

35351488

Abstract

Current first-line treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), i.e., antidepressant drugs and psychotherapy, show delayed onset of therapeutic effect as late as 2-3 weeks or more. In the clinic, the speed of beginning of the actions of antidepressant drugs or other interventions is vital for many reasons. Late-onset means that depression, its related disability, and the potential danger of suicide remain a threat for some patients. There are some rapid-acting antidepressant interventions, such as sleep deprivation, ketamine, acute exercise, which induce a significant response, ranging from a few hours to maximally one week, and most of them share a common characteristic that is the activation of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system. Activation of this system, i.e., augmentation of eCB signaling, appears to have anti-depressant-like actions. This article puts the idea forward that the activation of eCB signaling represents a critical mechanism of rapid-acting therapeutic interventions in MDD, and this system might contribute to the development of novel rapid-acting treatments for MDD.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Depression; Antidepressive Agents; Ketamine; Depressive Disorder, Major; Endocannabinoids; MDD; Endocannabinoid system; Brain stimulation; Rapid treatment