Sleep alterations in treatment-resistant depression patients undergoing ketamine treatment.
Aleksander Kwaśny, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała, Adam Włodarczyk, Krzysztof Pastuszak
Pharmacological Reports December 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-024-00641-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Post-hoc analysis of a naturalistic observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 28 |
| Population | Inpatients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder |
| Intervention | Intravenous ketamine |
| Duration | 7-day follow-up after eight intravenous ketamine infusions |
| Topics | Depression Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Ketamine therapy Sleep disorders Clinical research Mental health treatment |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Neither responders nor non-responders to ketamine treatment experienced significant changes in self-reported sleep patterns after eight intravenous infusions over seven days. |
Abstract
This study examines self-reported sleep alterations in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) inpatients following intravenous ketamine administration. This is a post-hoc analysis of a naturalistic observational study, which enrolled 28 inpatients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder and analyzed self-reported sleep changes (items 1-4; 'insomnia', 'nighttime restlessness', 'early morning waking', 'hypersomnia') in Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology 30-item (IDS SR-30) in responders and non-responders stratified per Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) during short-term ketamine treatment. Responders, as well as non-responders, did not experience significant changes in IDS SR-30 sleep items ('insomnia', 'nighttime restlessness', 'early morning waking', 'hypersomnia') (p's > 0.05) at 7-day follow-up after eight intravenous ketamine infusions as compared to baseline. Neither responders, nor non-responders reported any significant alterations in sleep patterns during ketamine infusions. These findings are not in line with current literature, as so far modest improvements in sleep during ketamine treatment have been reported. Results should be interpreted with caution, primarily due to the small sample size.
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 3
- Effects of ketamine on sleep and circadian rhythmicity in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders May 6, 2026
- Treatment-emergent psychiatric adverse events in patient-reported outcomes during ketamine use for major depressive disorder: a retrospective analysis. Pharmacological Reports May 20, 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 12
- A Randomized Trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression Archives of General Psychiatry August 1, 2006
- 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
- The effect of a single dose of intravenous ketamine on suicidal ideation: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis American Journal of Psychiatry October 3, 2017
- Esketamine Nasal Spray for Rapid Reduction of Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Who Have Active Suicide Ideation With Intent: Results of a Phase 3, Double-Blind, Randomized Study (ASPIRE II) The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology August 26, 2020
- Esketamine Nasal Spray for Rapid Reduction of Major Depressive Disorder Symptoms in Patients Who Have Active Suicidal Ideation With Intent The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry May 11, 2020
and 7 more in the library