Ketamine for depressive symptoms: A retrospective chart review of a private ketamine clinic.
The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa January 1, 2024 Vidette M Juby, Saaeda Paruk, Mitsuaki Tomita et al. 3 citations
In a private ketamine clinic in South Africa, adding intravenous ketamine to usual treatment for depression was associated with reduced depression severity and suicidal ideation. Among 154 patients who received ketamine infusions, 67 completed a six-infusion initial series; 60.6% responded (a more than 50% decrease in PHQ-9 score) and 32.4% achieved remission. Half of all 154 patients no longer reported suicidal ideation after treatment. Adverse events requiring intervention occurred in 6.2% of infusions, mostly nausea. Of those who completed the initial series, 48.5% continued maintenance infusions with no evidence of escalating use or abuse. This retrospective chart review is the first naturalistic study on ketamine for depressive symptoms in South Africa.