Effects of Intravenous Ketamine on Explicit and Implicit Measures of Suicidality in Treatment-Resistant Depression

Summary & key facts

Researchers gave a single low-dose ketamine infusion through a vein to a small group of people whose depression had not improved with other treatments. They measured suicidal thoughts in two ways: by asking people directly and by using a test that looks for automatic links between the self and death. Within a day, both the direct reports and the automatic test showed fewer suicidal thoughts. The study was small and short-term, so this shows a quick effect for some people but does not prove long-term benefit or safety.

Key facts:

• The study tested ketamine on people with depression that had not improved after other treatments.
• Participants received a single low-dose ketamine infusion delivered into a vein.
• Researchers measured suicidal thinking in two ways: direct self-report questions and an automatic test that measures unconscious links between the self and death.
• Both the direct reports and the automatic test showed reductions in suicidal thinking within about 24 hours after the infusion.
• The study was small and only looked at short-term changes, so the results are preliminary and do not show long-term effects or full safety information.

Topics

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Suicide and Self-Harm Studies Treatment of Major Depression

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Pharmacology

Tags

Anesthesia Cognition Depression (economics) Economics Ketamine Macroeconomics Major depressive disorder Medicine Psychiatry Psychology Treatment-resistant depression

Substances

Ketamine

Conditions & symptoms

Depression Sadness or low mood