Appetite measures as correlates of clinical response in mood disorders treated with ketamine: systematic review
Frontiers in Nutrition August 21, 2025 Jakub Słupski, Agnieszka Mechlińska, Adam Włodarczyk et al. 1 citation
A systematic review of five studies involving 678 participants examined how ketamine treatment affects appetite in people with treatment-resistant mood disorders. Two studies found significant improvement in reduced appetite after ketamine or esketamine treatment; one found no significant change; one reported a paradoxical worsening; and one noted minimal effect on increased appetite and atypical symptoms. The evidence suggests ketamine may improve depressive symptoms including appetite, or have neutral effects. Measuring appetite could help detect antidepressant effects beyond traditional medications and aid treatment planning for patients with metabolic disorders or malnutrition risk.