Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy

Current status, possibilities, and challenges of ketamine for treating depression and similar conditions

Updated

Abstract

Evidence supporting the use of intravenous ketamine and intranasal esketamine for depression has dramatically increased.

  • A large number of clinical trials and real-world effectiveness studies suggest antidepressant effects of ketamine.
  • Larger studies indicate an adequate safety profile for both intravenous ketamine and intranasal esketamine, including with long-term treatment.
  • Alternative methods of administration are being explored to improve accessibility, though their efficacy compared to intravenous ketamine is still uncertain.
  • Preliminary data indicate potential effectiveness of ketamine in treating conditions such as bipolar disorders, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  • Challenges include functional unblinding, expectancy-related bias, and treatment costs.

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