Comparing the effects of ECT and intravenous ketamine in psychiatric patients with major depressive episodes.
Journal of affective disorders June 18, 2025 Julia Myerson, Katrina A Rufino, Sanjay J Mathew et al.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) shows stronger antidepressant effects than intravenous ketamine for severe depression. In a retrospective chart review of 146 patients aged 18 to 74 with major depressive episodes, 94 received ketamine infusions twice weekly and 52 received ECT two to three times weekly. Overall, 45.2% of participants showed clinical symptom change on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. ECT had a response rate of 67.3% and remission rate of 60.0%, compared to 45.7% and 46.1% for ketamine. Chi-square tests indicated a significant association between treatment type and symptom improvement, favoring ECT.