Effect of Ketamine Treatment on Social Withdrawal in Autism and Autism-Like Conditions.
Megan Ralston, Alim Osman, Pavan Suryadevara, Elissa Cleland
Clinical Neuropharmacology DOI: 10.1097/WNF.0000000000000591 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | ketamine esketamine |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Keywords | Autism treatment Ketamine therapy Mental health research Social behavior |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Evidence of improved social condition with ketamine for ASD exists, but results are mixed and limited by small sample sizes and few studies. |
Abstract
Ketamine and esketamine have been used in the field of psychiatry to alleviate conditions such as major depressive disorder. Our objective was to evaluate the current literature on the use of ketamine for symptoms of social withdrawal in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism-like conditions. A comprehensive search of PubMed and Web of Science was conducted to identify literature involving the use of ketamine to treat symptoms of autism and social withdrawal. Patients with comorbid disorders were also included. Two original studies were found, showing mixed results on the use of ketamine for ASD. The use of esketamine found no statistically significant results, whereas the use of intravenous ketamine was shown to alleviate symptoms of social withdrawal especially in the short term. Neither study reported a significant amount of serious adverse events. Five case reports were also included, showing decreased depressive symptoms and evidence of increased social condition. Research on the use of ketamine for ASD and ASD-related conditions is limited. Evidence of improved social condition exists, but further studies should be conducted to increase sample power and test various doses and methods of administration.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The effect of a single dose of intravenous ketamine on suicidal ideation: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis Depressed patients with suicidal ideation at baseline | 2017 | Systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis | n = 167 |
| Ketamine use: a review Ketamine users | 2011 | Systematic review | |
| Ketamine and Other NMDA Antagonists: Early Clinical Trials and Possible Mechanisms in Depression Participants with major depression in placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized... | 2015 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| Ketamine and postoperative pain – a quantitative systematic review of randomised trials Surgical patients from 25 countries | 2004 | Systematic review | n = 2,839 |
| Side-effects associated with ketamine use in depression: a systematic review. Patients with depression | 2018 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 13
- Ketamine and Ketamine Metabolite Pharmacology: Insights into Therapeutic Mechanisms Pharmacological Reviews June 26, 2018
- 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
- 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
- Comparative efficacy of racemic ketamine and esketamine for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis Journal of Affective Disorders September 23, 2020
and 8 more in the library