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Oral ketamine for the rapid treatment of depression and anxiety in patients receiving hospice care.

Scott A Irwin, Alana Iglewicz

Journal of Palliative Medicine July 2010 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2010.9808 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case study Randomized Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 2
Population Patients receiving hospice care with depression and anxiety
Intervention Ketamine
Dose a single oral dose
Topics Anxiety Depression Esketamine Ketamine
Key findings In two hospice patients, a single oral dose of ketamine produced rapid and moderately sustained relief of both depression and anxiety, with no adverse effects noted. The authors state that randomized controlled trials are needed to firmly establish effectiveness, and suggest ketamine may be a promising, safe, and cost-effective rapid treatment in this population.

Abstract

Depression is prevalent and undertreated in patients receiving hospice care. Standard antidepressants do not work rapidly or often enough to benefit most of these patients. Here, two cases are reported in which a single oral dose of ketamine provided rapid and moderately sustained symptom relief for both depression and anxiety. In addition, no adverse effects were noted. Further investigation with randomized, controlled clinical trials is necessary to firmly establish the effectiveness of oral ketamine for the treatment of depression and anxiety in patients receiving hospice care. Ketamine may be a promising safe, effective, and cost-effective rapid treatment for depression and anxiety in this population.

Comparable studies

Other case reports and case series on ketamine for anxiety, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Ketamine-Enhanced Psychotherapy: Preliminary Clinical Observations on its Effects in Treating Death Anxiety Terminally-ill people suffering death anxiety 2007 Review and case study n = 2
Treatment of a Complex Personality Disorder Using Repeated Doses of LSD—A Case Report on Significant Improvements in the Absence of Acute Drug Effects A 39-year-old female patient with severe, treatment-resistant depression and complex... 2020 Case study n = 1
Ketamine as Add-On Treatment in Psychotic Treatment-Resistant Depression Inpatients with treatment-resistant depression with psychotic features 2023 Case series n = 4
Short term ketamine treatment in patient with bipolar disorder with comorbidity with borderline personality disorder: Focus on impulsivity Female patient diagnosed with both bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder 2023 Case study n = 1
Suicide versus Accidental Death by Autoerotic Asphyxiation in a Patient Receiving Intravenous Ketamine for Depression 28-year-old man with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic... 2022 Case study n = 1

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Anxiety Depression Esketamine Ketamine

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