A meta-analysis of the effects of ketamine on suicidal ideation in depression patients.
Translational psychiatry June 10, 2024 ZuoYao Shen, DaiQuan Gao, Xue Lv et al. 31 citations
Ketamine rapidly reduces suicidal thoughts in people with depression, with effects lasting through the full treatment cycle. A network meta-analysis of 14 studies (1,380 participants) found that within the first day after treatment, suicidal ideation dropped significantly (risk ratio 10.02). Repeated doses produced greater improvement after the last dose than after the first (risk ratio 0.56). By the end of treatment, recovery was significantly better with ketamine than with placebo (risk ratio 4.29 at day 26). This is the first network meta-analysis to demonstrate ketamine's role in alleviating suicidal ideation and to compare drug effects at different time points.