Advancing ketamine in the treatment hierarchy for refractory depression.
Kabir Nigam, Franklin King, Fernando Espi Forcen
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science October 25, 2024 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2024.217 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractKetamine appears highly effective for refractory depression, with fewer side effects and better tolerability than many other augmentation strategies. Evidence on mediators of psychiatric treatment outcomes suggests that using ketamine earlier in the course of treatment could improve patient outcomes.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with refractory depression |
| Intervention | Ketamine |
| Keywords | Antidepressants Depressive disorders General adult psychiatry Psychopharmacology Quality of life |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key finding | Ketamine is highly effective, better tolerated, and has a lower side effect profile compared to many augmentation strategies for refractory depression, and earlier intervention may improve outcomes. |
Abstract
Evidence indicates that ketamine is highly effective, has a lower side effect profile and is better tolerated compared to many augmentation strategies for refractory depression. This, combined with data on psychiatric treatment outcome mediators, suggests that earlier intervention with ketamine could improve outcomes for patients suffering from refractory depression.