Trends and characteristics in ketamine use among US adults with and without depression, 2015-2022.
Kevin H. Yang, Wayne Kepner, Charles M Cleland, Joseph J Palamar
Journal of Affective Disorders March 15, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.12.108 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults from the 2015-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health |
| Topics | Depression Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Nationally representative samples Ketamine-use-trends Mental-health-epidemiology Substance-abuse-patterns Drug-demographics |
| Citations | 19 |
| Key findings | Overall ketamine use prevalence increased from 0.11% in 2015 to 0.20% in 2019 (81.8% increase) and from 0.20% in 2021 to 0.28% in 2022 (40.0% increase), with depression associated with higher odds of use only in the earlier period. |
Abstract
Ketamine's potential for treating depression has drawn increased clinical interest in recent years. However, despite growing therapeutic use, recreational use among individuals with depression remain underexplored. We analyzed data from the 2015-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health focusing on adults in the US. Trends in past-year ketamine use, overall and by depression status, were estimated separately for 2015-2019 and 2021-2022 due to methodological changes in the survey. We also delineated correlates of ketamine use in each period, focusing on depression, sociodemographic characteristics, and other past-year drug use. Overall ketamine use prevalence increased from 2015 to 2019 (from 0.11 % to 0.20 %, an 81.8 % increase, p < 0.01) and from 2021 to 2022 (from 0.20 % to 0.28 %, a 40.0 % increase, p < 0.05). From 2015 to 2019, use increased among adults with and without depression (by 139.3 % [p < 0.05] and 66.7 % [p < 0.05], respectively), while from 2021 to 2022, an increase occurred only among those without depression (by 38.9 %, p < 0.05). Multivariable models revealed that depression was associated with increased odds of ketamine use in 2015-2019 (aOR = 1.80, 95 % CI: 1.12-2.89) but not in later years. New sociodemographic correlates emerged in 2021-2022, including adults aged 26-34 and those with a college degree being at higher odds for use. Various drugs (especially ecstasy/MDMA and gamma-hydroxybutyrate) were consistently associated with higher odds of use. We identified differential patterns and correlates of ketamine use over time. Shifts may be related to the evolving ketamine landscape and/or changing survey methodology. Monitoring of use patterns is crucial to inform prevention and harm reduction strategies.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ketamine for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concomitant BDNF and sleep slow wave changes indicate ketamine-induced plasticity in major depressive disorder Patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |
| Altered peripheral immune profiles in treatment-resistant depression: response to ketamine and prediction of treatment outcome Healthy controls and actively depressed patients with treatment-resistant depression... | 2017 | Observational cohort | n = 59 |
| Clinical Predictors of Ketamine Response in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression Treatment-resistant inpatients with DSM-IV-TR-diagnosed major depressive disorder or... | 2014 | Post hoc analysis of pooled data from four studies | n = 108 |
| An investigation of amino-acid neurotransmitters as potential predictors of clinical improvement to ketamine in depression Drug-free patients with major depressive disorder | 2011 | Observational cohort | n = 14 |
| Efficacy of ketamine therapy in the treatment of depression Drug-free/naïve men with severe depression, no history of psychotic disorder, head... | 2019 | Observational cohort | n = 25 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- Trends in ketamine use among nightclub attendees in New York City, 2017-2024. International Journal of Drug Policy June 1, 2025
- Non-response to short-term ketamine use for treatment-resistant depression. Pharmacological Reports April 30, 2025
- Self-treatment of psychiatric conditions using ketamine: Patterns, characteristics, and retrospective insights. Journal of Psychopharmacology June 1, 2026
- Associations between substance use treatment and ketamine use: A hypothesis-generating analysis. Addictive Behaviors Reports June 1, 2026
- Association Between Lifetime Hallucinogen Use and Valvular Heart Disease: Findings from the All of Us Research Program Journal of Psychoactive Drugs May 18, 2026
and 5 more in the library
Cites 15
- Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation American Journal of Psychiatry March 17, 2021
- A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders JAMA Psychiatry March 1, 2017
- A REVIEW OF KETAMINE ABUSE AND DIVERSION Depression and Anxiety August 1, 2016
- The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Task Force Recommendations for the Use of Racemic Ketamine in Adults with Major Depressive Disorder: Recommandations Du Groupe De Travail Du Réseau Canadien Pour Les Traitements De L’humeur Et De L’anxiété (Canmat) Concernant L’utilisation De La Kétamine Racémique Chez Les Adultes Souffrant De Trouble Dépressif Majeur The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry November 11, 2020
- Adolescent and adult time trends in US hallucinogen use, 2002–19: any use, and use of ecstasy, LSD and PCP Addiction August 17, 2022
and 10 more in the library