Antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients

Summary & key facts

Researchers gave a single low dose of ketamine through a vein to a small group of people with major depression and compared what happened to when the same people got a placebo. Many people felt less depressed within hours, and the benefit lasted for a few days for some. The study was small and short, and people sometimes had brief, strange feelings or other short-term effects, so this is an early finding that needs larger studies before we know how useful ketamine might be for most patients.

Key facts:

• The researchers tested a single low dose of ketamine given intravenously and compared it to a placebo in people with major depression.
• Many participants showed a noticeable drop in depressive symptoms within hours after the ketamine infusion.
• For some people the antidepressant benefit lasted several days after the single dose.
• Some participants experienced brief side effects, such as unusual perceptual experiences or feeling detached, that did not last long.
• The study included only a small number of people and had short follow-up, so the results are preliminary and need confirmation in larger studies.

Topics

Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior Treatment of Major Depression Tryptophan and brain disorders

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Pharmacology

Tags

Alternative medicine Anesthesia Antagonist Antidepressant Behavioural despair test Depression (economics) Developmental psychology Economics Glutamate receptor Hippocampus Internal medicine Ketamine Ketamine hydrochloride Macroeconomics Medicine NMDA receptor Pathology Pathophysiology Placebo Psychology Randomized controlled trial Rating scale Receptor Saline

Substances

Ketamine

Conditions & symptoms

Depression Feeling disconnected from others Sadness or low mood