Ketamine's Altered States Meta-Analysis: The Relationship Between Psychomimetic and Clinical Effects With Focus in Depression.
Vagner Deuel O de Tavares, Kaike Thiê da Costa Gonçalves, Maria Luiza de Morais Barros, Aldielyson Jorge Cavalcante de Brito, Patrícia Cavalcanti-Ribeiro, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Marcelo Falchi-Carvalho, Emerson Arcoverde Nunes, Jerome Sarris, Daniel Perkins, Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold, Dráulio Barros de Araújo, Nicole Leite Galvão‐coelho
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology DOI: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000001946 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Ketamine |
| Topics | Depression Esketamine Ketamine |
| Keywords | Ketamine therapy Mental health treatment Psychedelic medicine |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | No significant correlation was found between the psychoactive effects of ketamine and clinical outcomes in mental illness or depression. |
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a significant focus on exploring the potential therapeutic impact of altered states of consciousness on treatment outcomes for mental illness, with the goal of enhancing therapeutic strategies and patient results. This meta-analysis was designed to investigate the potential link between the psychomimetic effects of ketamine and clinical outcomes in mental health, which adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Eleven studies were selected for meta-analysis, and the main result did not find a significant correlation between the psychoactive effects of ketamine and clinical outcomes either in mental illness (n = 11; n's = 27; r = 0.06 [-0.05, 0.17]; P = 0.268) or depression exclusively (n = 10; n's = 25; r = 0.03 [-0.07, 0.13]; P = 0.561). High heterogeneity was found for general analysis ( I2 = 80.78). Egger's regression did not indicate publication bias (intercept = 1.57; SE = 1.49, P = 0.30). No significant Kendall's rank correlation coefficient was observed ( τ = 0.02, P = 0.88) indicating funnel plot symmetry. The sub-analyses, aimed at minimizing study variability by specifically examining factors such as patient disorders (limited to depression), methods of administration (exclusively intravenous), types of assessment instruments, and the timing of evaluations, also yielded no significant findings. This meta-analysis suggests that the altered states of consciousness experienced during ketamine sessions are not directly linked to clinical outcomes. However, it is important to acknowledge that the limited number of studies and their heterogeneity render this conclusion preliminary, warranting further investigation over time.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on ketamine for depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Interdisciplinary, Delphi-driven consensus guidelines on the use of intravenous ketamine infusions for depressive disorders from the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists, and Practitioners (ASKP3). Journal of Affective Disorders May 16, 2026
- Dissociation and Antidepressant Response to Subcutaneous Esketamine: A Clinical Study Journal of Psychiatric Research July 1, 2026
- Multimodal predictors of response to intravenous ketamine in treatment-resistant depression: toward personalized treatment in major depressive and bipolar disorders. CNS Spectrums September 28, 2026
Cites 54
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