A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Efficacy of Ketamine vs. Electroconvulsive Therapy in Severe Depression with Suicidal Ideation.
Neuropsychobiology February 5, 2026 Lavanya Seth, Jitendriya Biswal, Surjeet Sahoo et al.
Both electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and intravenous ketamine, given alongside oral antidepressants, significantly reduce severe depression and suicidal thoughts in patients with major depressive disorder. In a trial with 64 adults, depression scores dropped from 27 to 1 with ECT and from 26 to 2 with ketamine by four weeks after treatment; suicidal ideation scores fell from 12.1 to 1.2 with ECT and from 12.6 to 2.0 with ketamine. Ketamine worked faster, while ECT had slightly more lasting effects. Side effects were mild: ECT caused temporary cognitive issues, ketamine caused minor dissociative and urinary symptoms. Ketamine is a promising rapid option for acute suicidal ideation.