Ketamine augmentation of electroconvulsive therapy to improve neuropsychological and clinical outcomes in depression (Ketamine-ECT): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, parallel-group, superiority trial
Lancet psychiatry May 1, 2017 I. Anderson, A. Blamire, T. Branton et al. 106 citations
Adding a low dose of the drug ketamine to the anesthetic used during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) does not improve memory or speed recovery in severely depressed patients. In a randomized trial of 79 patients, those who received ketamine scored no better on a test of delayed verbal recall after four ECT sessions than those who received a placebo (saline). The ketamine group actually scored slightly lower on average, and the results rule out any more than a small to moderate benefit. Patients receiving ketamine also reported more adverse events, including transient psychological effects. The findings do not support using ketamine as a routine addition to ECT.