Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression: a Systematic Review
Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry May 5, 2025 Ana Malta Gomes, Filipa Novais 3 citations
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) shows minimal improvement after two or more antidepressant trials. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) combines the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine with psychotherapy to improve and sustain outcomes. A systematic review of eight studies involving 421 participants found that KAP significantly reduces depressive symptoms compared to ketamine alone. Preliminary evidence also suggests KAP may help with PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain. However, small sample sizes, varying protocols, short follow-ups, and risk of bias limit firm conclusions. The findings indicate KAP is promising for TRD, but larger, high-quality trials are needed to confirm effectiveness and establish standard protocols.