Comparison of efficacy of ketamine versus thiopentone-assisted modified electroconvulsive therapy in major depression
Indian Journal of Psychiatry May 1, 2019 Amit Jagtiani, H. Khurana, N. Malhotra 15 citations
Depression improves faster with electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) than with antidepressant medications. Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor antagonist, has rapid antidepressant effects when given intravenously. In a randomized trial of 60 hospitalized patients aged 18–45 with major depressive disorder, those receiving ketamine as anesthesia during modified ECT required significantly fewer sessions to achieve remission and showed faster improvement on depression rating scales compared to those receiving thiopentone anesthesia. The ketamine group also needed lower stimulus intensity and had longer seizure duration. Ketamine anesthesia appears to be a better option when rapid response to ECT is desired.