A pilot human study using ketamine to treat disorders of consciousness.
iScience January 17, 2025 Paolo Cardone, Arthur Bonhomme, Vincent Bonhomme et al. 9 citations
In a small double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial with three adults who had prolonged disorders of consciousness after a coma, an intravenous sub-anesthetic dose of the atypical psychedelic ketamine increased brain complexity as measured by Lempel-Ziv complexity, but did not change the explainable consciousness indicator. Patients showed reduced spastic paresis and spent more time with their eyes open, yet their diagnosis of consciousness did not improve. No adverse effects occurred. The findings suggest a potential therapeutic role for ketamine in disorders of consciousness and support a link between brain complexity and conscious states.