ketamine

n. a drug that is closely related to PCP (phencyclidine). It acts as an antagonist at NMDA receptors and was formerly used as a dissociative anesthetic. Disorientation and perceptual distortions may result from its use, which have limited its utility in surgical anesthesia and made it a sought-after drug of abuse. It is ingested in the form of tablets, capsules, or powder by drug users for its hallucinogenic effects. Low-dose intravenous infusions have been reported to improve symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant unipolar and bipolar depression. U.S. trade name: Ketalar.

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Psychology term of the day

January 19th 2025

herpetic neuralgia

pain associated with shingles, caused by reactivation of the herpes varicella-zoster virus (see herpes infection). Following an attack of chicken pox, the virus lies dormant in a dorsal nerve root and ganglion of the spinal cord; when reactivated, it spreads down the sensory nerve, causing vesicle formation and severe, burning, lancinating pain. This acute pain typically resolves in 3 to 5 weeks, but patients often develop the chronic, debilitating pain known as postherpetic neuralgia.