Widespread Cortical Thickness Reductions Following Non-medical Use of Ketamine: a Structural MRI Study of Individuals with Ketamine Dependence
Jinsong Tang, Qiuxia Wu, Chang Qi, An Xie, Jianbin Liu, Yunkai Sun, Tifei Yuan, Wei Chen, Tieqiao Liu, Wei Hao, Yanhui Liao
medRxiv Preprint Server February 21, 2021 preprint DOI: 10.1101/2021.02.21.21252178 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Population | Chronic ketamine users |
| Intervention | ketamine |
| Topics | Addiction Esketamine Ketamine |
| Keywords | Ketamine abuse Recreational ketamine use Illicit ketamine Ketamine dependence Drug abuse Brain changes Cortical thinning Neurological impact Brain structure Neurotoxicity Brain health Neuroimaging MRI Scans Brain imaging Medical imaging |
| Key findings | Chronic, non-medical ketamine use is associated with cortical thickness abnormalities in the brain. |
Abstract
Background A version of ketamine, called Esketamine has been approved for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Ketamine (“K powder”), a “dissociative” anesthetic agent, however, has been used non-medically alone or with other illicit substances. Our previous studies showed a link between non-medical ketamine use and brain structural and functional alterations. We found dorsal prefrontal gray matter reduction in chronic ketamine users. It is unknown, however, whether these observations might parallel findings of cortical thickness alterations. This study aimed at exploring cortical thickness abnormalities following non-medical, long-term use of ketamine.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ketamine for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain damages in ketamine addicts as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging Ketamine addicts | 2014 | Observational cohort | n = 21 |
| Characterization of Oral Ketamine Use: A Retrospective Review. Hospitalized patients aged 18 years or older receiving oral ketamine | 2025 | Retrospective cohort study | |
| Maintenance Intramuscular Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, a Retrospective Chart Review of Efficacy, Adverse Events, and Dropouts from a Community Practice. Patients receiving intramuscular ketamine with contemporaneous psychotherapy for... | 2024 | Observational study | n = 70 |
| Prescribing bias and adverse outcomes of esketamine in major depression comorbid substance. Adults aged 18 years or older with major depressive disorder in the TriNetX US... | 2026 | Retrospective cohort study | n = 30,670 |
| Ketamine Therapy for Chronic Pain Provides Added Benefits for Substance Misuse Therapy Adult chronic pain patients with comorbid substance misuse | 2026 | Observational study | n = 20 |