University of Exeter Commences Trials on Ketamine to Minimise Gambling Addiction
The University of Exeter (UoE) has launched a behavioural, addiction and memory (BAM) study to explore how formative experiences can influence negative gambling behaviours or habits in people.
BAM study researchers will test ketamine on participants, to examine their memories and whether they determine negative outcomes.
Ketamine, is used as a common anesthetic by doctors to treat anxiety, depression, and trauma but when taken in large doses, can have psychedelic and hallucinogenic effect on users as it blocks a receptor important for learning and memory.
The UoE’s research will be led by Professor Celia Morgan, an expert in psychopharmacology which tests the use of different medications to treat mental health conditions.
According to Morgan, this novelty kind of study is very important and might provide vital insights into how medication treatments can curb psychological factors associated with problem gambling.
She told ITV News that gambling problems devastate lives and so new treatment urgently need new treatments.
She stated that she feels privileged, to be running this innovative and important study at University of Exeter and hope that this study, may eventually lead to new treatment options for people struggling with gambling problems.
She stated further that they are beginning to understand more about memory processes and how they help people respond to rewards, such as food, money and drugs.
These memories according to her, may be important in people using drugs and alcohol or engaging in unhealthy gambling behaviours.
UoE has begun the study’s research phase, in which it seeks participants to test a low dose of ketamine.
Source: Sbcnews.co.uk
