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2013
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107 citations Research paper

Neurocognitive effects of ketamine in treatment-resistant major depression: association with antidepressant response

James W. Murrough, Le-Ben Wan, Brian M. Iacoviello, Katherine A. Collins, Carly Solon, Benjamin S. Glicksberg,

Summary & key facts

This study tested 25 people with treatment-resistant major depression who received a single intravenous dose of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg). People who later showed an antidepressant response at 24 hours had poorer thinking skills before treatment, especially slower processing speed. Right after the 40-minute ketamine infusion, some people had worse memory recall, and those immediate cognitive declines were linked to a lower chance of antidepressant response at 24 hours. The study was small and open-label, so the findings are preliminary.

Key facts:
  • The study included 25 participants with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder who received one IV ketamine infusion at 0.5 mg/kg.
  • Antidepressant response was measured 24 hours after the ketamine infusion.
  • Participants who responded at 24 hours had poorer baseline neurocognitive performance than non-responders, with a significant difference in processing speed (F=8.42, df=23, p=0.008).
  • A subset of cognitive tests was repeated immediately after the 40-minute ketamine infusion and showed selective impairments in memory recall.
  • Greater immediate cognitive worsening after ketamine predicted a lower response rate at 24 hours (Fisher’s Exact Test two-sided p=0.027).
  • The cognitive battery included estimated premorbid IQ, current IQ, and tests from the MATRICS (MCCB) battery.
  • The study was an open-label trial with a single ketamine infusion, which the authors note as a limitation for generalizing the results.
  • Participants had treatment-resistant depression (failed at least two adequate antidepressant trials) and several diagnoses (e.g., bipolar disorder, psychosis, recent substance abuse) were exclusion criteria.

Topics

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Treatment of Major Depression Tryptophan and brain disorders

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Pharmacology

Tags

Adverse effect Anesthesia Antidepressant Cognition Depression (economics) Economics Hippocampus Internal medicine Ketamine Macroeconomics Medicine Neurocognitive Psychiatry Psychology

Substances

Ketamine

Conditions & symptoms

Depression Difficulty focusing Lack of energy or motivation Sadness or low mood
Summaries and links are for general information and education only. They are not a substitute for reading the original publication or for professional medical, legal, or other advice. Always refer to the linked source for the full study.

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