Ketamine also reported to lower suicidal thoughts
Ketamine is an anesthetic used primarily in veterinary medicine and, under certain conditions, also in humans to reduce the sensation of pain. In conditions such as anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety disorders, there is already preliminary evidence that treatment with ketamine may have benefits.
Ketamine therapy reduces depression symptoms and suicidal ideation in the short term, according to a review of all available scientific evidence. A team led by the University of Exeter analyzed 83 published studies. The strongest evidence emerged around the use of ketamine to treat major depression and bipolar depression.
Effect up to two weeks
According to the experts, symptoms decreased after only one to four hours in the course of a single treatment. The effect lasted for up to two weeks. There are indications that repeated treatment could prolong the effect. However, more research is needed here to determine how long this period is likely to be.
Single or multiple doses of ketamine also resulted in a moderate to large reduction in suicidal ideation. This improvement was noted as early as four hours after treatment. It lasted for an average of three days. The effect lasted for up to a week. According to lead researcher Merve Mollaahmetoglu, ketamine should be useful for rapid relief from depression and suicidal thoughts.
The administration of ketamine creates a window of opportunity for further therapeutic intervention. "It is important to note that this review examined the administration of ketamine in carefully controlled clinical settings where any risks of ketamine can be safely controlled," Mollaahmetoglu said.
Further areas of application conceivable
In other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, there is preliminary evidence that treatment with ketamine may provide benefits. In addition, in individuals with substance use disorders, treatment resulted in short-term reductions in craving, use, and withdrawal symptoms.
The findings, published in British Journal of Psychiatry Open, bring together the scientific results of a growing body of research on the potential benefits of ketamine for the treatment of conditions where treatment options are limited. The overall review includes 33 systematic reviews, 29 randomized controlled trials, and 21 observational studies.
A number of questions are currently unanswered in this area of research. These include the optimal dose, route of administration, and number of doses in treatment. There is also a need for research on the additional and interactive benefits of adjunctive psychotherapy. The review was published by the Medical Research Council financed.
(Source: Press release)
