Frontiers in Psychiatry
October 18, 2021
A. Wilkowska, M. Wiglusz, M. Gałuszko-węgielnik et al.
35 citations
Anhedonia, a core symptom of depression linked to suicidality and reduced quality of life, often resists standard treatments. In 42 patients with treatment-resistant depression, eight ketamine infusions added to ongoing therapy significantly reduced anhedonia, as measured by the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale. This reduction in anhedonia appeared to mediate ketamine's overall antidepressant effect. However, the benefit was observed only among patients not using benzodiazepines. The findings require confirmation in a larger randomized placebo-controlled trial.
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
August 1, 2021
A. Wilkowska, A. Włodarczyk, M. Gałuszko-węgielnik et al.
33 citations
In an open-label observational study, 13 patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression received eight intravenous infusions of 0.5 mg/kg ketamine over four weeks. After the seventh infusion, 61.5% responded and 46.2% achieved remission. Responders also showed a significant antisuicidal effect. Ketamine caused a transient rise in blood pressure and increased dissociative symptoms, but no manic switch or serious adverse events occurred. The findings suggest ketamine is a safe and feasible add-on treatment for this population.
Pharmaceuticals
April 1, 2023
Aleksander Kwaśny, A. Włodarczyk, Damian Ogonowski et al.
27 citations
Ketamine reduces the severity of sleep insomnia in depression. Two studies reported significant improvement in sleep measured by MADRS and QIDS-SR16 scales after intravenous ketamine and intranasal esketamine. One case report showed mitigation of symptoms in PSQI and ISI during 3-month treatment with esketamine. Two studies with objective nocturnal EEG measurements showed a decrease in nocturnal wakefulness accompanied by an increase in slow wave and REM sleep. Robust data are lacking, and more research is needed.
Medicine
July 23, 2021
A. Włodarczyk, W. Cubała, M. Gałuszko-węgielnik et al.
23 citations
Intravenous ketamine as an add-on to standard medication shows a good safety profile in inpatients with treatment-resistant depression. In 49 patients with major depressive or bipolar disorder, dissociative symptoms measured by the Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) varied significantly across eight infusions, while psychomimetic symptoms measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) did not. Both scores returned to absent levels within one hour after each infusion. Neither dissociative nor psychomimetic scores were linked to treatment outcome. The study provides no support for a connection between dissociation and antidepressant response.