Real-World Effectiveness of Repeated Ketamine Infusions for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression

A mean reduction of 6.08 in depression symptoms was observed after four ketamine infusions for treatment-resistant bipolar depression.

• Significant antidepressant effects were noted in the overall sample, with improvements measured by a self-report depression scale.
• Each subsequent ketamine infusion was associated with further reductions in depressive symptoms.
• There were also significant decreases in suicidal thoughts and anxiety, along with functional improvements in daily activities.
• The response rate, defined as a 50% decrease in total depression scores, was 35%, while the remission rate was 20% after the treatment.
• Infusions were generally well tolerated, with only 4.5% of patients experiencing treatment-emergent hypomania and no cases of mania or psychosis.

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