Ketamine for suicidality: An umbrella review
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology April 22, 2022 Ahmad Shamabadi, Ali Ahmadzade, Alireza Hasanzadeh 11 citations
A systematic review of systematic reviews found preliminary evidence that ketamine may reduce suicidal thoughts in the short term, but long-term effects remain unknown. Most of the 27 reviewed studies reported positive effects, though only four showed mixed or negative results. Among nine reviews of esketamine, only five found significant benefit. Common side effects included a temporary rise in pulse and blood pressure, dissociation, confusion, blurred vision, nausea, and vertigo, mostly mild. Over two-thirds of the included reviews were rated low or critically low quality, highlighting the need for further research.