Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Ketamine and Psilocybin in Comparison to Current Treatment Regimens for Treatment-Resistant Depression, Mood Disorders, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in the Pediatric Population: A Narrative Review.
Cureus August 1, 2025 Brett Hughes, Soz Mirza, Manasi Ponamala et al.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted pre-existing needs for rapid-acting therapies in pediatric psychiatry. This narrative review examined ketamine and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, mood disorders, and PTSD in children and adolescents, comparing them to standard treatments. Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, provided rapid relief for depression and was well tolerated for mood disorders. Psilocybin, a 5-HT2A agonist, decreased symptoms in refractory depression and fostered emotional processing. For PTSD, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy reduced symptom severity, though outcomes varied; psilocybin enhanced neural plasticity, allowing memory reframing. Both drugs modulate glutamate pathways. Ethical considerations for using dissociative and hallucinogenic therapies in youth are discussed.