Drug and Alcohol Dependence
January 15, 2014
E. Dakwar, C. Anerella, Carl L. Hart et al.
125 citations
In a small study of eight cocaine-dependent individuals, ketamine infusions produced mystical-type experiences that helped explain increased motivation to quit cocaine a day later. Participants received two doses of ketamine (0.41 mg/kg and 0.71 mg/kg) and a control drug lorazepam (2 mg) in random order. Ketamine, especially the higher dose, caused significantly stronger mystical-type effects than lorazepam. The intensity of those mystical effects, but not dissociative symptoms, predicted greater motivation to stop using cocaine 24 hours after infusion. The findings suggest that psychological experiences during ketamine treatment may contribute to its anti-addiction benefits, though larger studies are needed.
JAMA Psychiatry
December 1, 2023
Sanjay J. Mathew, Manish K. Jha, Amit Anand
8 citations
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and ketamine are both used to treat treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but recent reports highlight important considerations when comparing them. This viewpoint examines key issues from several recent studies, including differences in how quickly each treatment works, their side effects, and the practical challenges of administering them. ECT remains highly effective but requires anesthesia and can cause memory problems, while ketamine offers rapid relief but its long-term effects and optimal dosing are still being studied. The authors suggest that neither treatment is clearly superior for all patients, and the choice depends on individual circumstances and preferences.
Translational Psychiatry
July 4, 2026
Krisha Shah, Rubén Herzog, Alan C. Swann et al.
Ketamine rapidly reduces depression in some people with treatment-resistant depression, but the brain mechanisms are not fully understood. This analysis of a randomized, double-blind trial compared ketamine to midazolam in 30 older veterans with treatment-resistant depression. Using EEG data and a measure called O-information, which captures how brain regions interact in groups of three or more, the study found that ketamine caused dynamic changes in these interactions over time. The strongest effects occurred in alpha brain waves one hour after infusion, with changes shifting to theta waves by 24 hours and partially returning in beta and gamma waves by day 7.