Analysis of print news media framing of ketamine treatment in the United States and Canada from 2000 to 2015.
Melvyn W B Zhang, Ying X Hong, Syeda F Husain, Keith M. Harris, Roger Ho
PLoS One 2017 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173202 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | 43 print news articles from 28 North American newspapers published between 2000 and 2015 |
| Duration | 15-year period (2000-2015) |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Key findings | Print news coverage of ketamine shifted between 2000-2007 and 2008-2015 toward more positive portrayals of its clinical use as an antidepressant. Later articles were significantly more likely to encourage ketamine for depression and treatment-resistant depression and to claim it is more effective than conventional antidepressants. The authors suggest these changes might influence ketamine's popularity for treating clinical depression and call for guidance for journalists. |
Abstract
There are multifaceted views on the use of ketamine, a potentially addictive substance, to treat mental health problems. The past 15 years have seen growing media coverage of ketamine for medical and other purposes. This study examined the print news media coverage of medical and other uses of ketamine in North America to determine orientations and trends over time. Print newspaper coverage of ketamine from 2000 to 2015 was reviewed, resulting in 43 print news articles from 28 North American newspapers. A 55-item structured coding instrument was applied to assess news reports of ketamine. Items captured negative and positive aspects, therapeutic use of ketamine, and adverse side effects. Chi-squares tested for changes in trends over time. In the 15-year reviewed period, the three most frequent themes related to ketamine were: abuse (68.2%), legal status (34.1%), and clinical use in anesthesia (31.8%). There was significant change in trends during two periods (2000-2007 and 2008-2015). In 2008-2015, print news media articles were significantly more likely to encourage clinical use of ketamine to treat depression (p = 0.002), to treat treatment resistant depression (p = 0.043), and to claim that ketamine is more effective than conventional antidepressants (p = 0.043). Our review found consistent positive changes in the portrayals of ketamine by the print news media as a therapeutic antidepressant that mirror the recent scientific publications. These changes in news media reporting might influence the popularity of ketamine use to treat clinical depression. Guidance is required for journalists on objective reporting of medical research findings, including limitations of current research evidence and potential risks of ketamine.
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 14
- Ketamine for Depression, 4: In What Dose, at What Rate, by What Route, for How Long, and at What Frequency? The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry July 20, 2017
- The abuse liability of ketamine: A scoping review of preclinical and clinical studies. Journal of Psychiatric Research May 1, 2022
- Efficacy of psilocybin for treating symptoms of depression: systematic review and meta-analysis BMJ May 1, 2024
- Non-parenteral Ketamine for Depression: A Practical Discussion on Addiction Potential and Recommendations for Judicious Prescribing CNS Drugs February 14, 2022
- Holding on or letting go? Patient experiences of control, context, and care in oral esketamine treatment for treatment-resistant depression: A qualitative study. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2022
and 9 more in the library
Cites 11
- Subanesthetic Effects of the Noncompetitive NMDA Antagonist, Ketamine, in Humans Archives of General Psychiatry March 1, 1994
- Ketamine and Other NMDA Antagonists: Early Clinical Trials and Possible Mechanisms in Depression American Journal of Psychiatry October 1, 2015
- Comparative and Interactive Human Psychopharmacologic Effects of Ketamine and Amphetamine Archives of General Psychiatry September 1, 2005
- Ketamine treatment for depression: opportunities for clinical innovation and ethical foresight. The Lancet Psychiatry April 5, 2017
- To use or not to use: an update on licit and illicit ketamine use Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation March 1, 2011
and 6 more in the library