The Effects of Psychotherapy on Single and Repeated Ketamine Infusion(s) Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression: The Convergence of Molecular and Psychological Treatment.
Sofia Sakopoulos, Mcwelling Todman
International Journal of Molecular Sciences July 11, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26146673 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective chart review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) |
| Interventions | Ketamine infusion Psychotherapy |
| Duration | 30-day follow-up |
| Topics | Neuroplasticity Depression Esketamine Ketamine |
| Keywords | Ketamine infusion therapy Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy kap Rapid-acting antidepressant Treatment-resistant depression trd Neuroplasticity neuroplasticity Integrated care |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Combining ketamine infusion therapy with weekly psychotherapy produced the most pronounced reduction in depression severity compared to ketamine alone. |
Abstract
Ketamine infusion therapy has gained recognition as an innovative treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), demonstrating rapid and robust antidepressant effects. Its therapeutic promise is increasingly understood to involve molecular and neurobiological processes that promote neural plasticity and cognitive flexibility. These changes may create a unique window for psychotherapeutic interventions to take deeper effect. This retrospective chart review examined the clinical outcomes of individuals with TRD who received either single or repeated ketamine infusion(s), with or without weekly psychotherapy. Depression severity, measured by Beck Depression Inventory scores, was assessed pre-treatment and 30 days post-infusion(s). The results showed significant symptom reduction across all groups, with the most pronounced effects observed in those who received concurrent psychotherapy. While infusion number did not significantly alter outcomes, the integration of ketamine with psychotherapy appeared to enhance treatment response.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ketamine for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concomitant BDNF and sleep slow wave changes indicate ketamine-induced plasticity in major depressive disorder Patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |
| Altered peripheral immune profiles in treatment-resistant depression: response to ketamine and prediction of treatment outcome Healthy controls and actively depressed patients with treatment-resistant depression... | 2017 | Observational cohort | n = 59 |
| Clinical Predictors of Ketamine Response in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression Treatment-resistant inpatients with DSM-IV-TR-diagnosed major depressive disorder or... | 2014 | Post hoc analysis of pooled data from four studies | n = 108 |
| An investigation of amino-acid neurotransmitters as potential predictors of clinical improvement to ketamine in depression Drug-free patients with major depressive disorder | 2011 | Observational cohort | n = 14 |
| Efficacy of ketamine therapy in the treatment of depression Drug-free/naïve men with severe depression, no history of psychotic disorder, head... | 2019 | Observational cohort | n = 25 |