Ketamine and chronic treatment-resistant depression: real-world practice and after relapse.
BMC psychiatry October 28, 2024 Sumaya Jobnah, Youssef Latifeh, Dina Al Kabani et al. 2 citations
Six infusions of ketamine at 0.5 mg/kg over two weeks produced a response in 66.67% of patients with chronic treatment-resistant depression, but the effect was short-lived: all but one responder relapsed within one month after treatment ended. Only one patient (5.56%) achieved remission. After relapse, depression severity measured by MADRS scores returned to baseline levels. A high incidence of serious adverse events related to suicidality occurred: one non-responding patient attempted suicide, and two responding patients had suicidal attempts or severe suicidal thoughts. The benefit-to-harm ratio of ketamine therapy for chronic TRD requires careful assessment given the increased risk of suicidality.