The Use of Ketamine for Depression in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of Efficacy, Safety, and Clinical Applications.
Yogendra Singhal, Pavan Gaurav R, Sreeharsh Saji, Surendra Kumar Pingoliya, Deepinder Kaur Ghera
Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy May 29, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/15360288.2026.2679720 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Adult cancer patients with depression |
| Intervention | Ketamine |
| Topics | Depression Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Cancer |
| Key findings | Ketamine provides rapid relief from depressive symptoms in adult cancer patients, often within hours to days, with additional benefits in anxiety, pain, and quality of life. |
Abstract
Depression is a common and serious concern in cancer patients, significantly impacting quality of life, treatment adherence, and overall prognosis. While traditional antidepressants often take weeks to exert therapeutic effects, ketamine has emerged as a potential alternative due to its rapid antidepressant action. This systematic review explores the efficacy, safety, and clinical role of ketamine in managing depression among adult cancer patients. Following PRISMA guidelines and PROSPERO registration (CRD42024603120), a comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Of 4,256 identified citations, 3,036 unique records remained after removing duplicates. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control designs. These studies demonstrated that ketamine provides rapid relief from depressive symptoms, often within hours to days, with additional benefits in anxiety, pain, and quality of life. Reported short-term side effects included fatigue, dizziness, and dissociation, while data on long-term safety were limited. Overall, ketamine appears to be a promising short-term treatment option for depression in cancer patients, particularly those with treatment-resistant depression. However, further research is necessary to establish long-term outcomes, optimal dosing strategies, and broader clinical applicability.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on ketamine for depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 17
- Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression: Challenges and Strategies Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment 2020
- The Role of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Systematic Review Current Neuropharmacology November 12, 2014
- Ketamine and other N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists in the treatment of depression: a perspective review Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease April 13, 2015
- Glutamate Receptor Antagonists as Fast-Acting Therapeutic Alternatives for the Treatment of Depression: Ketamine and Other Compounds The Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology January 6, 2014
- Use of Various Doses of S-Ketamine in Treatment of Depression and Pain in Cervical Carcinoma Patients with Mild/Moderate Depression After Laparoscopic Total Hysterectomy Medical Science Monitor April 27, 2020
and 12 more in the library