Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Imaging Genetics Centre, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA.
2 papers in the library · 29 citations · publishing 2024
Both intravenous ketamine and intranasal esketamine significantly reduce depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in people with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. In a multi-site observational study of 53 patients, those receiving IV ketamine (26 patients, average age 52.8) and those receiving IN esketamine (27 patients, average age 43.9) showed similar improvements in depression severity and suicidal thoughts. Side effects were mild and temporary, with no significant difference in risk between the two treatments. The findings suggest both therapies are effective and well tolerated for treatment-resistant depression.
In patients with major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression, intravenous low-dose ketamine combined with standard care significantly reduced depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation over a five-year period. Of 71 outpatients, 54.93% responded to treatment, 78.26% experienced transient mild side effects, and 11.27% dropped out. Demographic variables did not affect treatment outcome or tolerability. The findings suggest that low-dose ketamine is an effective, fast-acting, and well-tolerated option for managing depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in this population in real-world clinical settings.