Antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects of ketamine in treatment-resistant depression associated with psychiatric and personality comorbidities: A double-blind randomized trial.
G. Ahmed, Y. Elserogy, G. M. A. Elfadl, K. Ghada Abdelsalam, M. Ali
Journal of Affective Disorders January 6, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.005 via Semantic Scholar
Summary
Ketamine infusions reduce suicidal ideation and depression in people with treatment-resistant depression, regardless of other psychiatric or personality disorders. In a randomized double-blind trial with 36 patients, those receiving two weekly ketamine infusions showed significantly greater decreases on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Suicide Probability Scale than those given a placebo. The presence of other psychiatric symptoms did not influence the magnitude of improvement. Receiving ketamine was the only significant factor predicting better suicide and depression scores. The study lacked data on quality of life and cognition and had a small sample size.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 36 |
| Population | Patients with treatment-resistant depression |
| Keywords | Medicine Psychology |
| Citations | 24 |
| Key finding | Ketamine infusions reduce suicidal ideation and depression in treatment-resistant depression regardless of other psychiatric or personality comorbidities. |
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of ketamine treatment on depression and suicidal ideation in treatment resistant depression (TRD) and to determine whether they are influenced by other psychiatric and personality comorbidities. METHODS A randomized double-blind parallel-arm controlled study on 36 patients with TRD. Patients were divided into two treatment groups: ketamine (K group) and placebo (P group). Patients in the K and P groups received one infusion of medicine per week for two weeks. All participants were assessed using the Structured Interview for the Five-Factor Personality Model (SIFFM), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Suicide Probability Scale (SPS), and Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL 90). RESULTS After treatment, there was a significant decrease in the total HDRS and SPS scores in the K group compared to the P group, but the magnitude of response was not influenced by the presence of other psychiatric symptoms. Regression model, only receive ketamine treatment was significant factor for improve suicide and depression scores. LIMITATIONS lack of data on other outcomes that are important to patients (e.g., quality of life, cognition) and need for a larger sample size. CONCLUSIONS Ketamine infusions in TRD reduce suicidal ideation and depression despite the presence other psychiatric and personality disorders.