Treating depression with ketamine and psilocybin - what animal research can clarify about new rapid acting therapies

Ketamine and psilocybin are presented as candidate treatments for depression, with emphasis on how treatment mechanisms and response timelines differ from traditional antidepressants. The piece highlights the role of animal research in testing the neurobiological pathways involved in rapid antidepressant effects and in evaluating safety, dosing, and potential risks before translating findings to humans. It frames preclinical work as a way to reduce uncertainty about efficacy and adverse effects, supporting more informed development of ketamine and psilocybin based therapies for depressive disorders.