Brain sciences
June 4, 2023
Muhammad Youshay Jawad, Saleha Qasim, Menglu Ni et al.
46 citations
Ketamine shows promise as a treatment for bipolar depression, though evidence remains weak. A scoping review of 10 clinical studies (5 randomized controlled trials and 5 open-label studies) found that ketamine was generally tolerable, with minimal risk of triggering manic or hypomanic episodes, and demonstrated some effectiveness in reducing depressive symptoms and suicidality. The treatment may be particularly useful for patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression. However, more research is needed to establish ketamine's role in both acute and maintenance treatment phases, and to study its potential for preventing recurrence and suicidal behavior.
Bipolar Disorders
December 14, 2022
Farhan Fancy, Nelson B. Rodrigues, Joshua D. Di Vincenzo et al.
35 citations
Four intravenous ketamine infusions (0.5–0.75 mg/kg) given over two weeks to 66 patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression produced significant antidepressant effects, with depressive symptoms decreasing further after each infusion. Suicidal thoughts and anxiety also significantly decreased, and functioning improved. The response rate was 35% and remission rate 20% after four infusions. Treatment-emergent hypomania occurred in only 4.5% of patients, with no cases of mania or psychosis. Repeated doses were well tolerated and associated with greater symptom reduction.
Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)
October 1, 2023
Farhan Fancy, Nelson B Rodrigues, Joshua D Di Vincenzo et al.
4 citations
Repeated intravenous ketamine infusions significantly reduced depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar I/II depression, and improved functioning. In an observational study of 66 patients receiving four infusions over two weeks, depressive symptoms dropped by an average of 6.08 points on the QIDS-SR16 scale. Response rate was 35% and remission rate 20%. Hypomania occurred in only 4.5% of patients, with no mania or psychosis. The findings suggest real-world effectiveness and tolerability of IV ketamine for bipolar depression.