Ketamine for the treatment of major depressive disorder and bipolar depression: A review of the literature.
Sarah E Grady, Travis A Marsh, Allison Tenhouse, Kelsey Klein
Mental Health Clinician January 2017 DOI: 10.9740/mhc.2017.01.016 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Literature review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Ketamine |
| Topics | Depression Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Nmda antagonist Bipolar depression |
| Key findings | The authors report that across seven randomized controlled trials, ketamine showed statistically significant improvement over placebo or midazolam in major depressive disorder and over placebo in bipolar depression. They suggest ketamine may help patients with treatment-resistant depression who have exhausted other options, acting through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism. |
Abstract
Over the past decade, ketamine has been studied for major depressive disorder and bipolar depression. Ketamine is believed to exert its antidepressant properties through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism. Study authors completed a literature review of seven randomized controlled trials of ketamine usage in major depressive disorder and bipolar depression. Ketamine demonstrated a statistically significant improvement over placebo or midazolam in major depressive disorder. Ketamine also exhibited a statistically significant improvement over placebo in bipolar depression. Ketamine has shown promise in quickly reducing symptoms in patients with treatment resistant depression and bipolar depression. Using ketamine may be helpful for patients that have exhausted other therapeutic options.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ketamine for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Ketamine: a paradigm shift for depression research and treatment | 2019 | Review | |
| Rapid‐acting antidepressant ketamine, its metabolites and other candidates: A historical overview and future perspective | 2019 | Review | |
| Ketamine: A tale of two enantiomers | 2020 | Review | |
| Molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant actions of arketamine: beyond the NMDA receptor | 2021 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
- An Integrative Approach to Ketamine Therapy May Enhance Multiple Dimensions of Efficacy: Improving Therapeutic Outcomes With Treatment Resistant Depression. Frontiers in Psychiatry November 24, 2021
- Therapeutic potential of ketamine for alcohol use disorder. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews July 1, 2021
- Ketamine and other glutamate receptor modulators for depression in adults with bipolar disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews October 8, 2021
- A qualitative study of patients' experience of ketamine treatment for depression: The ‘Ketamine and me’ project Journal of Affective Disorders Reports January 15, 2021
- Expert Opinion on Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy for People with Psychotic Symptoms Research Square January 25, 2022
and 6 more in the library
Cites 7
- A Randomized Trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression Archives of General Psychiatry August 1, 2006
- Antidepressant Efficacy of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: A Two-Site Randomized Controlled Trial American Journal of Psychiatry August 28, 2013
- A Randomized Add-on Trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression Archives of General Psychiatry August 1, 2010
- To use or not to use: an update on licit and illicit ketamine use Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation March 1, 2011
- Ketamine, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, and Depression Specific Yoga and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy in Management of Treatment Resistant Depression: Review and Some Data on Efficacy Depression Research and Treatment 2015
and 2 more in the library