The Use of Ketamine for Depression in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of Efficacy, Safety, and Clinical Applications.
Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy May 29, 2026 Yogendra Singhal, Pavan Gaurav R, Sreeharsh Saji et al.
Depression is common among cancer patients and harms quality of life, treatment adherence, and prognosis. Standard antidepressants take weeks to work, but ketamine may offer rapid relief. This systematic review of 14 studies (randomized trials, cohort studies, and case-control designs) found that ketamine quickly reduces depressive symptoms, often within hours to days, and also improves anxiety, pain, and quality of life. Short-term side effects include fatigue, dizziness, and dissociation; long-term safety data are limited. Ketamine appears promising as a short-term option for depression in cancer patients, especially those with treatment-resistant depression, but more research is needed on long-term outcomes and optimal dosing.