Adding intravenous ketamine quickly reduces depression and suicidal thoughts in severe major depression

The 4-12 week lag period of conventional antidepressants may create critical vulnerability in severe depression.

• Peak suicide risk is often observed during the first month of treatment with conventional antidepressants.
• Ketamine has been primarily studied in individuals with treatment-resistant depression.
• The potential of ketamine to address severe depression without treatment resistance has not yet been investigated.

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