Ketamine for comorbid treatment-resistant depression and substance use disorders: balancing risks and opportunities
Benjamin D. Brody, Dora Kanellopoulos
Pharmacological Reports March 11, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-026-00843-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | TRD patients with SUDs |
| Topics | Addiction Depression Esketamine Ketamine |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Individuals with comorbid Substance Use Disorders are overrepresented among responders to ketamine for Treatment Resistant Depression. |
Abstract
Recent retrospective analyses have shown that individuals with comorbid Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are overrepresented among responders to ketamine for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD). Ketamine is an effective treatment for depression and also a potential substance of misuse. The authors contrast a mechanistic pathway with a possible expectancy effect to account for these findings, and urge careful consideration of risks and benefits when considering ketamine for individuals with TRD and SUDs.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ketamine for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Predictors of Response to Ketamine in Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder Patients with treatment-resistant depressive symptoms as part of major depressive... | 2018 | Narrative review | |
| Can psychedelic compounds play a part in drug dependence therapy? Patients with substance dependency | 2015 | Review | |
| Therapeutic potential of ketamine for alcohol use disorder. | 2021 | Review | |
| Non-parenteral Ketamine for Depression: A Practical Discussion on Addiction Potential and Recommendations for Judicious Prescribing | 2022 | Review | |
| Ketamine, an Old–New Drug: Uses and Abuses | 2023 | Review |