Serial Ketamine Infusions as Adjunctive Therapy to Inpatient Care for Depression
JAMA psychiatry October 22, 2025 A. Jelovac, Cathal Mccaffrey, Masashi Terao et al. 13 citations
Repeated intravenous ketamine infusions are no more effective than a placebo (midazolam) for reducing depressive symptoms in inpatients with moderate to severe depression. In a randomized clinical trial, there was no statistically significant difference between the ketamine and midazolam groups on the primary outcome of depression severity at the end of treatment. No significant differences were found on secondary measures of efficacy, cognition, economic outcomes, or quality of life. These results do not support a superior antidepressant effect for serial intravenous ketamine as an addition to usual inpatient care.