Repeated intravenous ketamine therapy in a patient with treatment-resistant major depression
The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry May 12, 2008 Michael Liebrenz, Rudolf Stohler, Alain Borgeat 73 citations
In a 55-year-old man with treatment-resistant major depression and co-occurring alcohol and benzodiazepine dependence, a single intravenous infusion of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) produced a pronounced improvement in depression symptoms, peaking two days later (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale down 56.6%, Beck Depression Inventory down 65.4%). Positive effects began fading by day 7 and returned to baseline by day 35. A second infusion six weeks later was less effective, reducing symptoms by 43% and 35% respectively, with effects lasting only 7 days. Repeated ketamine administration can be beneficial, but the diminished response to the second dose suggests that optimal dosing and scheduling require further investigation.