Antidepressant Effect of Ketamine on Inflammation‐Mediated Cytokine Dysregulation in Adults with Treatment‐Resistant Depression: Rapid Systematic Review
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity January 1, 2022 Shiryn D. Sukhram, Grozdena Yilmaz, Jianying Gu 26 citations
Ketamine infusion may reduce depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), with a quick onset of effect. Based on scores from the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the overall response rate for ketamine was 56%, meaning 56% of those treated had scores decrease by at least 50%. However, the evidence for ketamine's rapid antidepressant effect remains inconsistent, and its anti-inflammatory effects on specific proinflammatory cytokines are still being clarified. The findings provide a basis for future research on improving systemic inflammatory immune disorders and mental health, suggesting ketamine may be part of a comprehensive treatment for TRD patients with elevated depression-specific inflammatory biomarkers.