Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of ketamine in the treatment of refractory anxiety spectrum disorders

Summary & key facts

Researchers combined results from several carefully controlled trials to see if ketamine helps people with anxiety that did not get better from usual treatments. The short-term or 'acute' ketamine dose seemed to reduce anxiety across different hard-to-treat anxiety disorders. When people received repeated or maintenance ketamine, the benefits lasted longer. These results are preliminary, and more research is needed to understand safety, side effects, and the risk of misuse.

Key facts:

• The study pooled results from multiple carefully controlled trials that compared ketamine with other treatments in people whose anxiety had not improved with standard care.
• The analyses found that an acute, or single, ketamine treatment appeared to reduce symptoms across several types of treatment-resistant anxiety disorders.
• Giving ketamine on a maintenance schedule (repeated doses) seemed to prolong the benefit compared with a single dose.
• The authors describe the evidence as preliminary and say more studies are needed to learn about side effects, off-label use, and potential for abuse in real-world clinical settings.

Abstract

These preliminary analyses suggest that acute ketamine may be broadly effective across treatment-resistant anxiety spectrum disorders. These effects can be prolonged with maintenance treatment. Future studies will be needed to provide critical knowledge gaps around off-label use, side effects, and potential risks for abuse in clinical settings.

Topics

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

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Pharmacology

Tags

Adverse effect Anxiety Anxiolytic Clinical psychology Internal medicine Ketamine Medicine Meta-analysis Psychiatry Randomized controlled trial Tolerability

Substances

Ketamine

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Panic disorder and phobias Anxiety or worry Panic