Treatment With (Es)ketamine in Catatonia
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry – October 13, 2025
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ketamine shows promise for treating catatonia, with a systematic review analyzing its efficacy and safety. Out of 14 studies involving 274 patients, 71% experienced significant improvement in symptoms. Ketamine's rapid action contrasts with traditional treatments like electroconvulsive therapy, which can take longer to show effects. The findings highlight ketamine's potential as a valuable option in psychiatry, particularly for those resistant to conventional medications like phenothiazines and benzothiazines. This shift could reshape treatment approaches for conditions like bipolar disorder and severe depression.
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that NMDA receptor antagonists, such as ketamine, may offer benefit in catatonia. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ketamine and esketamine for catatonia.