Ketamine for mood disorders, anxiety, and suicidality in children and adolescents: a systematic review.
European child & adolescent psychiatry January 1, 2025 Alisha M Bruton, Dalton G Wesemann, Taryn A Machingo et al. 20 citations
A systematic review of 16 studies (22 reports) examined ketamine and esketamine for mood disorders, anxiety, and suicidality in youth up to 19 years old. Studies included case studies, observational studies, and randomized trials. Immediate improvements in depression, anxiety, and suicidality were reported, with benefits lasting weeks to months. Ketamine was well-tolerated; common side effects were dizziness, nausea, and mild dissociation, and transient hemodynamic changes resolved without intervention. The evidence suggests ketamine is safe and may be effective, but further randomized trials are needed.