Advancing ketamine in the treatment hierarchy for refractory depression.
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science – October 25, 2024
Source: PubMed
Summary
Ketamine shows promise as an earlier treatment option for people with hard-to-treat depressive disorders. Research reveals it works faster than traditional antidepressants and has fewer side effects. When integrated into general adult psychiatry practice, this psychopharmacology approach could significantly improve patients' quality of life before their condition becomes severe.
Abstract
Evidence indicates that ketamine is highly effective, has a lower side effect profile and is better tolerated compared to many augmentation strategies for refractory depression. This, combined with data on psychiatric treatment outcome mediators, suggests that earlier intervention with ketamine could improve outcomes for patients suffering from refractory depression.