The Effects of Ketamine on Cognition in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Systematic Review and Priority Avenues for Future Research.
Hartej Gill, Barjot Gill, Nelson B Rodrigues, Orly Lipsitz, Joshua D. Rosenblat, Sabine El‐halabi, Flora Nasri, Rodrigo B. Mansur, Yena Lee, Roger S McIntyre
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews November 23, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.020 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with treatment-resistant depression |
| Intervention | Ketamine |
| Dose | 0.5 mg/kg |
| Topics | Depression Esketamine Ketamine |
| Citations | 92 |
| Key findings | A subanesthetic dose of IV ketamine does not worsen cognitive function and may improve working memory and visual learning in some patients with treatment-resistant depression. |
Abstract
Replicated evidence has documented cognitive deficits in populations with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Approximately 40% of patients with MDD present with impairment of one or more cognitive domains. As such, there is an unmet need to discover treatments that have pro-cognitive effects in TRD patients. Ketamine has demonstrated efficacy as a rapid-onset intervention for the treatment of depression. The objective of the current review was to assess the effects of ketamine on cognition in TRD patients. We systematically searched the PubMed, Google Scholar and PsycINFO between database inception to March 24th, 2020. We identified five studies that evaluated cognition in TRD populations following ketamine treatment. All studies included a 0.5 mg/kg subanesthetic intravenous (IV) administration of ketamine. One study found significant improvements in complex (p = .008) and simple (p = .027) working memory and one study found improvements in visual learning memory following IV ketamine infusions (p = .014). Improvements in speed of processing and verbal learning memory were observed in anxious TRD participants only. Importantly, a subanesthetic dose of IV ketamine does not worsen cognitive function.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on ketamine for depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 47
- 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
- Molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant actions of arketamine: beyond the NMDA receptor Molecular Psychiatry May 7, 2021
- Long-term safety of ketamine and esketamine in treatment of depression Expert Opinion on Drug Safety April 13, 2022
- NMDA Receptor Activation-Dependent Antidepressant-Relevant Behavioral and Synaptic Actions of Ketamine Journal of Neuroscience January 3, 2023
- Ketamine as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Narrative Review Nutrients November 20, 2021
and 42 more in the library
Cites 21
- Mechanisms of Ketamine Action as an Antidepressant Molecular Psychiatry March 13, 2018
- Efficacy of Esketamine Nasal Spray Plus Oral Antidepressant Treatment for Relapse Prevention in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression JAMA Psychiatry June 5, 2019
- Efficacy and Safety of Intranasal Esketamine Adjunctive to Oral Antidepressant Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression JAMA Psychiatry December 27, 2017
- A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Frequency Study of Intravenous Ketamine in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression American Journal of Psychiatry April 8, 2016
- Ketamine: a paradigm shift for depression research and treatment Neuron March 1, 2019
and 16 more in the library