Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression
Syed Iqbal, Ronak Patel, Zeshan Barlas, Reza Safavi, Kathleen Mcdeavitt, Asim Shah
Psychiatric Annals June 1, 2024 DOI: 10.3928/00485713-20240613-01
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractKetamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, has antidepressant and antisuicidal effects shown over the past two decades and is effective for treatment-resistant depression. The FDA has approved intranasal (S)-ketamine with an oral antidepressant for this condition. However, the need for in-office administration and monitoring limits accessibility, and concerns about risks and abuse potential remain. Despite these drawbacks, its potential efficacy makes it a useful treatment for patients with treatment-resistant depression and suicidality.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Intranasal (S)-ketamine oral antidepressant |
| Key finding | Ketamine is effective for treatment-resistant depression and suicidality, but its use is limited by the need for in-office administration and concerns about risks and abuse potential. |
Abstract
Ketamine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist that has antidepressant and antisuicidal effects, as shown by multiple studies done over the past two decades, that can be used effectively in the management of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved intranasal (S)-ketamine in combination with an oral antidepressant for TRD. Although research is promising with respect to ketamine's effect on depression and suicidality, the need for in-office administration and treatment monitoring limits the accessibility of treatment. Significant concerns remain regarding the risks of treatment and its abuse potential. Nonetheless, its potential efficacy in TRD and suicidality makes ketamine an effective treatment modality for this patient population. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2024;54(6):e170–e176.]