1705 results for "Ketamine"
How Do People Who Undergo Ketamine Treatment for a Psychiatric Problem Subjectively Experience This Intervention? A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies.
International journal of mental health nursing – February 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine therapy offers a unique window into consciousness: patients report profound shifts in perception and emotional breakthroughs during treatment. Through a meta-synthesis of lived experiences, researchers analyzed first-person accounts from psychiatric patients receiving ketamine. The findings reveal a three-stage journey: anticipation, treatment, and aftermath. Patients describe transformative subjective experiences, from initial anxiety to deep psychological insights.
Abstract
Ketamine treatment has shown promising effects for different mental disorders. Yet, little is known on how people who receive ketamine for a psychi...
The effect of intranasal (R,S)-ketamine on symptoms of fatigue in severe major depressive disorder or bipolar depression with and without comorbid alcohol use disorder: Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Journal of affective disorders – December 15, 2024
Summary
Ketamine delivered through the nose shows promising results in fighting severe fatigue in patients with depression. In a groundbreaking trial, a single dose significantly reduced exhaustion within hours - even in people with bipolar disorder or alcohol use disorder. The treatment was well-tolerated and worked quickly, offering hope for those struggling with persistent fatigue that hasn't improved with standard medications.
Abstract
Fatigue is a multidimensional condition that may overlap with depression. Initial studies found that fatigue responds in only a limited way to stan...
Can mind-altering prescription medicines be safe? Lessons from ketamine and esketamine.
Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) – August 01, 2024
Summary
As psychedelics gain medical acceptance, ketamine and its newer cousin esketamine reveal striking differences in safety outcomes. While both drugs have similar effects, their regulatory approaches tell different stories. Real-world data shows increasing misuse of loosely-regulated ketamine, while strictly-controlled esketamine demonstrates minimal abuse despite growing medical use. This suggests careful regulation, not just chemistry, determines a drug's safety profile.
Abstract
Recent decades have witnessed an extraordinary global crisis of drug misuse. Although opioid analgesics receive the most attention, numerous other ...
The efficacy and safety of ketamine in the treatment of super-refractory status epilepticus: a systematic review.
Journal of neurology – July 01, 2024
Summary
When severe epileptic seizures don't respond to standard treatments, the anesthetic ketamine offers hope. Analysis of hospital data shows this medication effectively stops super-refractory status epilepticus - a dangerous form of continuous seizures - with fewer side effects than alternatives. Early administration proved particularly beneficial, with patients showing significant improvement in seizure control and recovery outcomes.
Abstract
Ketamine, as an anesthetic, has been considered for terminating status epilepticus (SE); however, due to the urgency and severity of the condition,...
Associations between substance use treatment and ketamine use: A hypothesis-generating analysis.
Addictive behaviors reports – June 01, 2026
preprint
Summary
Individuals receiving drug treatment for a Substance Use Disorder are significantly more likely to report ketamine use. Among 173,808 participants, 1.39% of those in treatment used ketamine, compared to just 0.22% not in treatment. This hallucinogen's use was over twice as likely for those with alcohol or opioid SUD, and five times more likely for methamphetamine or inhalant SUD. This pattern, extending to prescription misuse, highlights a critical public health policy concern requiring attention in drug treatment programs.
Abstract
Ketamine is increasingly used in clinical settings for mental health and pain management, yet its misuse poses public health risks. While prior stu...
Blood biomarker changes and relationships after low dose oral ketamine treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
medRxiv Preprint Server – March 02, 2025
Summary
Though ketamine shows promise for PTSD, its biological impact has been largely unknown. Recent research explored how low-dose oral ketamine affects blood biomarkers in 25 individuals with PTSD over six weeks. A key finding revealed a novel interaction between brain-related biomarkers, BDNF and VEGF-A, which decreased after treatment. This suggests a potential biological mechanism for the observed PTSD symptom reduction. Additionally, new links were found between FKBP51 and serotonin levels and clinical improvements. This pioneering work offers important insights into how ketamine treatment may work at a biological level.
Abstract
Ketamine has been investigated as a treatment alternative for PTSD for the last 20 years, yet there have been virtually no reports of biological ch...
Attitudes and Perceptions of Portuguese Psychiatrists and Psychologists on the Clinical Use of Ketamine.
Acta medica portuguesa – May 02, 2025
Summary
Portuguese mental health professionals show cautious optimism about ketamine's potential in treating stubborn depression. In a nationwide survey, 59% of psychiatrists and psychologists expressed openness to using ketamine therapeutically, though only 36% felt well-informed about it. While psychiatrists showed more confidence in ketamine's treatment potential than psychologists, both groups want more training before using it with patients.
Abstract
Ketamine has garnered attention for its rapid efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression, offering a novel mecha...
Comparative Evaluation of analgesic efficacy of ketamine and magnesium sulfate as adjuvants to bupivacaine for scalp block in supratentorial Craniotomy: A Randomized, Double-Blind clinical study.
Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia – July 01, 2025
Summary
Adding ketamine to local anesthetics during scalp blocks can triple the duration of pain relief after brain surgery. This breakthrough finding shows that combining ketamine with standard nerve blocks provides superior pain control compared to using magnesium sulfate or no additives. Patients receiving ketamine needed significantly less pain medication and reported better comfort levels for up to 13 hours post-surgery.
Abstract
Effective pain management during craniotomy is crucial for optimizing hemodynamics, recovery, and patient satisfaction. This study evaluated the ef...
Impact analysis of expanded access to ketamine for treatment-resistant depression.
Journal of comparative effectiveness research – June 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine treatment could save the US healthcare system over $828 million annually while helping thousands more patients with severe depression. Using advanced simulation techniques, researchers found that expanding ketamine access would allow 75,000 more patients to receive care in the first year compared to traditional electroconvulsive therapy. The Markov model showed ketamine was equally effective but more cost-efficient for treatment-resistant depression, benefiting both patients and insurers.
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to estimate the economic impacts of expanded access to ketamine relative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) by offering intra...
Effects of ketamine on fear memory extinction: a review of preclinical literature.
Frontiers in neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine, traditionally used as an anesthetic, shows promise in treating PTSD by helping people overcome traumatic memories. Recent findings reveal that ketamine may enhance fear extinction—a process where threatening memories lose their emotional power. This molecular mechanism could complement CBT, making it easier for patients to process trauma. While timing and dosage are crucial factors, ketamine's ability to modify fear memories offers hope for improved PTSD treatments.
Abstract
Ketamine, a multimodal dissociative anesthetic, is widely used as a trauma analgesic in emergency situations. Ketamine is also used to treat psychi...
Recreational Ketamine Use among Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder: Demographics, Motivations, and Polysubstance Use.
Substance use & misuse – May 01, 2025
Summary
Nearly 1 in 3 people with opioid use disorder report using ketamine, with many attempting self-treatment for withdrawal symptoms and mental health concerns. Urban males are more likely to use ketamine, often alongside other substances like marijuana and alcohol. While some users seek therapeutic effects, others pursue recreational experiences. The findings highlight complex relationships between ketamine and opioid use, with both potential risks and self-medication patterns emerging.
Abstract
Data show that recreational ketamine use appears to be increasing. This study aimed to understand how ketamine fits into broader polysubstance use ...
Glutamate plus glutamine to GABA ratio as a predictor of ketamine response in treatment-resistant depression: A double-blind, randomized, open-label extension study.
Journal of affective disorders – August 15, 2025
Summary
Brain chemistry holds the key to predicting ketamine's effectiveness in hard-to-treat depression. Scientists found that measuring the balance between excitatory and inhibitory brain chemicals can forecast who will respond best to ketamine therapy. Using advanced brain imaging, researchers discovered that patients with a higher ratio of glutamate to GABA in a specific brain region showed greater improvement. This breakthrough helps doctors better identify which patients with treatment-resistant depression may benefit most from ketamine treatment.
Abstract
Approximately 30 % of patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) respond to ketamine; however, no replicable predictors of response have be...
Sex specific effects of ketamine, but not other glutamate receptor modulators, on ethanol self-administration and reinstatement of ethanol seeking in rats.
Psychopharmacology – April 08, 2025
Summary
Female rats showed unique responses to ketamine in reducing alcohol consumption, revealing important sex differences in addiction treatment. The research explored how ketamine and similar drugs affect alcohol-seeking behavior in rats under stress conditions. While ketamine significantly reduced alcohol consumption in females at specific doses, it had minimal effect in males. Interestingly, memantine worked for both sexes, while hydroxynorketamine showed no impact. These findings suggest sex-specific approaches may be crucial for treating alcohol disorders.
Abstract
Alcohol use and major depressive disorder are frequently comorbid, with individuals diagnosed with a substance use disorder being nearly three time...
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) partially modulates ketamine's sustained anxiolytic effects without altering its antidepressant properties in female rats.
Psychoneuroendocrinology – July 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine's remarkable effects on depression vary between males and females, with women often showing better responses. New findings reveal that while estrogen receptors influence anxiety relief from ketamine treatment, they don't affect its powerful antidepressant benefits in females. The research used specialized techniques to block estrogen signaling in female rats, showing that ketamine continued to lift depression symptoms regardless of estrogen activity. However, its anxiety-reducing effects were partially dependent on these hormone pathways.
Abstract
Ketamine is a rapid-acting antidepressant with sexually dimorphic effects. Female animals exhibit a higher sensitivity to its antidepressant proper...
Monoamine neurotransmitter-related gene-based genome-wide association study of low-dose ketamine in patients with treatment-resistant depression.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – March 24, 2025
Summary
Groundbreaking research from Taiwan reveals how ketamine's antidepressant effects work through multiple brain chemical pathways. Scientists conducted a genome-wide association study of patients with treatment-resistant depression, finding that ketamine's effectiveness links to genes controlling various monoamine neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine systems. The results explain why low-dose ketamine can help patients who don't respond to standard treatments.
Abstract
Low-dose ketamine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist that exerts an antidepressant effect on patients with treatment-resistant depressi...
Alleviating role of ketamine in breast cancer cell-induced osteoclastogenesis and tumor bone metastasis-induced bone cancer pain through an SRC/EGR1/CST6 axis.
BMC cancer – December 18, 2024
Summary
Ketamine, commonly known as an anesthetic, shows promising potential in fighting breast cancer's spread to bones and reducing associated pain. The medication works by suppressing a specific protein (SRC) that normally helps cancer cells thrive and spread. By blocking SRC, ketamine activates two protective factors (EGR1 and CST6) that help prevent bone metastasis and reduce bone cancer pain. Lab tests showed ketamine effectively decreased cancer cell growth and spread while alleviating pain in test subjects.
Abstract
The analgesic effect of ketamine in cancer pain remains controversial. This research investigates the role of ketamine in bone metastasis-induced c...
Intravenous ketamine versus electroconvulsive therapy for major depressive disorder or bipolar depression: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Journal of affective disorders – February 15, 2025
Summary
Groundbreaking treatments for severe depression show that IV ketamine works faster than traditional electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In comparing these treatments for major depressive disorder and bipolar depression, ketamine provided quicker symptom relief within 24 hours. While both approaches proved equally effective long-term, ketamine caused temporary vision changes and dizziness, whereas ECT's main side effect was muscle pain.
Abstract
Intravenous (IV) ketamine has been evaluated alongside electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in addressing major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar dep...
Ketamine Analgo-sedation for Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Adults: A Rapid Practice Guideline from the Saudi Critical Care Society and the Scandinavian Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine.
Anesthesia and analgesia – August 29, 2024
Summary
New guidelines reveal ketamine, a powerful sedative, may not be the best solo option for critically ill patients on ventilators. Analysis of 26 studies covering 2,800+ patients shows that while ketamine combined with other sedatives might slightly reduce time on ventilation, its benefits as a standalone treatment remain unclear. Healthcare teams are advised to use ketamine as a supplement rather than primary sedative.
Abstract
This Rapid Practice Guideline (RPG) aimed to provide evidence‑based recommendations for ketamine analgo-sedation (monotherapy and adjunct) versus n...
Use of Early Ketamine Sedation and Association With Clinical and Cost Outcomes Among Mechanically Ventilated Patients With COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Critical care explorations – July 01, 2024
Summary
Early ketamine treatment for COVID-19 patients on ventilators may have unexpected drawbacks. In a study of over 42,000 ventilated COVID patients across 610 US hospitals, those receiving ketamine showed higher mortality rates (52.5% vs 45.9%) and longer ICU stays. Treatment also led to increased hospital costs and longer time on ventilators, challenging assumptions about ketamine's benefits in critical care.
Abstract
To describe the utilization of early ketamine use among patients mechanically ventilated for COVID-19, and examine associations with in-hospital mo...
Environmental enrichment enhances the antidepressant effect of ketamine and ameliorates spatial memory deficits in adult rats.
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior – July 01, 2024
Summary
Enriched environments combined with ketamine show promising results in fighting depression. When rats were given ketamine while living in stimulating environments with toys and social interaction, they showed significantly reduced behavioral despair and improved spatial memory compared to those in standard cages. The treatment activated specific brain regions, including the habenula, and increased C-Fos protein levels, indicating enhanced neural activity. This breakthrough suggests that enriched environments can boost ketamine's antidepressant effects while minimizing side effects.
Abstract
Ketamine is a rapid-acting antidepressant associated with various cognitive side effects. To mitigate these side effects while enhancing efficacy, ...
Number needed to treat (NNT) for ketamine and esketamine in adults with treatment-resistant depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Journal of affective disorders – July 01, 2024
Summary
For every 3 people with difficult-to-treat depression, one person responds positively to ketamine treatment within a week. This groundbreaking analysis of over 2,000 patients reveals both ketamine and esketamine's remarkable efficacy against treatment-resistant depression. The number needed to treat (NNT) shows ketamine works quickly, with benefits appearing within hours and lasting weeks. While traditional antidepressants often fall short, these treatments offer new hope with minimal risks.
Abstract
Ketamine has been established as efficacious in adults living with Treatment-resistant Depression (TRD). Toward providing a quantifiable estimate o...
Intravenous S-ketamine's analgesic efficacy in third molar surgery. A randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial.
British journal of pain – April 01, 2024
Summary
Intravenous S-ketamine shows promise in managing postoperative pain after oral surgery, offering an alternative to traditional opioid painkillers. In this pain management study, researchers tested two different doses of S-ketamine against a placebo during wisdom tooth removal. Patients receiving the higher dose experienced significantly less pain during the first 24 hours after surgery and waited longer before needing additional pain medication. This suggests S-ketamine could be an effective option for postoperative pain control while avoiding opioid-related concerns.
Abstract
In most cases, a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen are the optimal treatment for postoperative pain in third molar surgery. If stronger anal...
Ketamine disrupts gaze patterns during face viewing in the common marmoset
bioRxiv Preprint Server – February 16, 2021
Summary
Gaze patterns, crucial for social interaction, are profoundly altered by certain substances. Research shows that ketamine significantly disrupts how marmosets view conspecific faces. Typically, eyes are key. However, after ketamine, marmosets focused more on the snout, and their eye movements became less predictable. This specific disruption in face-viewing, not general eye control, highlights ketamine's value in marmosets for modeling social cognition changes in neuropsychiatric conditions.
Abstract
Faces are stimuli of critical importance for primates. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a promising model for investigations of face pro...
Effects of ketamine on postoperative cognition: a scoping review.
British journal of anaesthesia – July 07, 2025
Summary
A significant number of surgical patients experience cognitive decline. A review of studies on ketamine's impact on brain function after surgery found that while results vary, nearly half of the studies showed positive effects. Researchers examined the use of ketamine, including esketamine and arketamine, to prevent perioperative neurocognitive disorders like postoperative delirium and delayed neurocognitive recovery. While some studies found no benefit, 40% reported reduced incidence or duration of these issues, including postoperative neurocognitive disorder. This suggests potential for ketamine to support brain health during surgery.
Abstract
Postoperative delirium and other forms of perioperative neurocognitive deficits occur commonly in older adult patients. Ketamine, administered eith...
Intranasal Racemic Ketamine Maintenance Therapy for Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Naturalistic Feasibility Study
CrossRef
Summary
Intranasal ketamine shows promise for long-term depression relief, with all five patients experiencing benefits in a novel maintenance program. Over up to 14 sessions across 192 days, with a mean dose of 220 mg, participants showed decreased depressive symptoms and improved quality of life. The treatment proved feasible and well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events. Minor side effects included anxiety and nausea. This innovative hospital-to-outpatient approach offers a potentially safe and effective option for severe, treatment-resistant depression.
Abstract
Abstract Background Ketamine is a promising therapy for treatment-resistant depression due to its rapid onset, although benefits are often transito...
International pooled patient-level meta-analysis of ketamine infusion for depression: In search of clinical moderators
Molecular Psychiatry – September 07, 2022
Summary
Ketamine robustly reduces symptoms of Major depressive disorder, particularly for treatment-resistant depression. An analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials (809 patients) found ketamine significantly improved depression severity on rating scales like the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Acute effects were substantial (beta=0.58) compared to placebo. This medicine's antidepressant benefits were greater for patients failing at least two prior antidepressant medications. Despite this extensive clinical trial in psychiatry and psychology, no patient-level features emerged to guide personalized Ketamine treatment, a crucial mental health research topic.
Abstract
Abstract Depression is disabling and highly prevalent. Intravenous (IV) ketamine displays rapid-onset antidepressant properties, but little is know...
Treadmill Exercise Training Ameliorates Apoptotic Cells and DNA Oxidation in the Cerebral Cortex of Rats Exposed to Chronic Ketamine Abuse.
Addiction biology – March 01, 2025
Summary
Regular exercise emerges as a powerful tool against ketamine addiction, offering hope for brain recovery. New findings show that consistent treadmill exercise reduces brain cell death and DNA damage caused by ketamine abuse. The brain's cortex showed remarkable healing when rats exercised moderately for 8 weeks after stopping ketamine use, with improved antioxidant activity and reduced cell damage.
Abstract
Ketamine abuse damages brain function and structure, increasing reactive oxygen species and apoptosis in the cerebral cortex, but moderate-intensit...
A new module in the drug development process: preclinical multi-center randomized controlled trial of R-ketamine on alcohol relapse.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – May 01, 2025
Summary
A promising breakthrough in addiction treatment reveals that R-ketamine may help prevent alcohol relapse, with particularly strong effects in women. Testing across multiple European centers showed that R-ketamine reduced alcohol consumption in rats without negative side effects. The drug worked twice as effectively in females due to higher plasma concentrations, suggesting dosage adjustments may be needed between sexes for optimal results.
Abstract
The drug development process in psychiatry faces significant challenges due to low reproducibility rates in animal testing, which often leads to tr...
Intranasal racemic ketamine maintenance therapy for patients with treatment-resistant depression: a naturalistic feasibility study.
BMC psychiatry – January 07, 2025
Summary
A breakthrough in treating stubborn depression: Nasal spray ketamine shows promise as a maintenance therapy. In this observational study, five patients with major depressive disorder who hadn't responded to traditional treatments received regular ketamine doses through a nasal spray. All participants maintained stable or improved mood and quality of life over 6 months, with only minor side effects like anxiety and nausea.
Abstract
Ketamine is a promising therapy for treatment-resistant depression due to its rapid onset, although benefits are often transitory, with patients ne...
Subanesthetic Ketamine Ameliorates Activity-Based Anorexia of Adult Mice.
Synapse (New York, N.Y.) – January 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine, a medication known for its rapid antidepressant effects, shows promise in treating anorexia nervosa by reducing excessive exercise behaviors. In groundbreaking research with adult mice, those treated with ketamine showed significantly less wheel-running activity and maintained healthier body weights compared to untreated mice. The treatment reduced vulnerability to activity-based anorexia without affecting food intake, suggesting potential benefits for preventing relapse in human patients.
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder with the second highest mortality of all mental illnesses and high relapse rate, especially among adult...
An evaluation of the efficacy and side effects of a single dose of ketamine in major depressive disorder.
Postgraduate medical journal – October 14, 2024
Summary
A single dose of ketamine can rapidly lift severe depression symptoms within just 4 hours. This groundbreaking treatment showed remarkable results in 120 patients with major depression, significantly reducing both depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. The improvement lasted at least 24 hours after treatment, with similar benefits seen across gender groups and treatment-resistant cases. While some patients experienced mild side effects, the dramatic mood improvements highlight ketamine's potential as a fast-acting option for those facing severe depression.
Abstract
This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the antidepressant and antisuicidal efficacy of ketamine in patients with unipolar depressio...
Ketamine analgo-sedation for mechanically ventilated critically ill adults: A rapid practice guideline from the Saudi Critical Care Society and the Scandinavian Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine.
Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica – October 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine, a powerful sedative and pain reliever, shows promise as a supplementary treatment for critically ill patients on breathing machines. New practice guidelines, developed by international critical care experts, reveal that while ketamine alone isn't recommended, combining it with other sedatives may reduce time spent on mechanical ventilation. Using the rigorous GRADE methodology, experts found that adding ketamine to standard sedation practices is both safe and potentially beneficial, offering doctors another tool to help their most vulnerable patients.
Abstract
This Rapid Practice Guideline (RPG) aimed to provide evidence-based recommendations for ketamine analgo-sedation (monotherapy and adjunct) versus n...
Ketamine for Critically Ill Patients with Severe Acute Brain Injury: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.
Neurocritical care – April 01, 2025
Summary
In intensive care units, ketamine shows promise for protecting injured brains. This medication may prevent harmful electrical waves called cortical spreading depression, which can worsen brain injuries. Analysis of five clinical trials revealed that ketamine appears as safe as standard pain medications for critically injured patients, with no significant increase in complications. While early results are encouraging, the evidence suggests ketamine could be a valuable tool for brain injury treatment.
Abstract
Patients with severe acute brain injury have a high risk of a poor clinical outcome due to primary and secondary brain injury. Ketamine reportedly ...
A replication study using the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase®) to evaluate whether an association between ketamine and esketamine and alcohol and substance misuse exists.
Journal of affective disorders – October 15, 2024
Summary
New data reveals contrasting safety profiles between ketamine and esketamine in treating depression. While ketamine showed higher rates of substance use disorder and alcohol abuse reports, esketamine demonstrated lower risks. Analysis of global health data suggests esketamine may be a safer alternative for patients with depression, particularly those with a history of substance use concerns.
Abstract
Ketamine and esketamine are increasingly prescribed in the treatment of resistant mood disorders and persons at risk of suicide. Ketamine is a drug...
Intravenous Ketamine for Cancer Pain: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis Comparing Fixed-Rate Versus Weight-Based Dosing.
Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy – December 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine offers new hope for cancer-related pain management, with nearly half of patients experiencing significant relief. A groundbreaking analysis reveals that simpler fixed-rate dosing works just as effectively as more complex weight-based calculations. Patients with higher initial opioid needs showed better response to ketamine therapy, suggesting it's particularly valuable for those with severe pain. The findings point to streamlined treatment options that could make pain relief more accessible.
Abstract
Although weak evidence exists to support subanesthetic ketamine for cancer pain treatment, successful use may be hindered in the absence of standar...
Experiential Learning with Ketamine: A Mixed-Methods Exploratory Study on Prescription and Perception.
Therapeutics and clinical risk management – January 01, 2024
Summary
Healthcare providers significantly increased ketamine use in critical care during COVID-19, yet many remained uncomfortable with the medication despite hands-on experience. A major hospital study revealed that ketamine use for analgosedation jumped from 2% to 32% of ventilated patients during the pandemic. Despite this surge in practical experience, doctors still cited knowledge gaps and desired more continuing education and protocols to guide its use in critical care.
Abstract
Incorporating unfamiliar therapies into practice requires effective longitudinal learning and the optimal way to achieve this is debated. Though no...
Experiences of Awe Mediate Ketamine's Antidepressant Effects: Findings From a Randomized Controlled Trial in Treatment-Resistant Depression.
Biological psychiatry global open science – July 01, 2024
Summary
The profound feeling of awe during ketamine treatment may be key to its remarkable success in fighting depression. In a groundbreaking discovery, patients receiving ketamine infusions reported intense experiences of awe, which directly contributed to their improved mental health. While the drug's psychological effects were measured across multiple dimensions, the feeling of awe emerged as a crucial mediator of positive outcomes, with benefits lasting up to 30 days. Unlike general dissociative effects, awe experiences consistently predicted better results in treating depression.
Abstract
Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, provides rapid antidepressant effects. Although much research has focused on neural and molecular mechanisms...
Sedoanalgesia With Ketamine in the Emergency Department: Factors Associated With Unsatisfactory Effectiveness.
Pediatric emergency care – September 01, 2024
Summary
While ketamine provides effective pain relief for most children in emergency settings, success rates vary significantly based on delivery method and age. Intravenous ketamine proved highly effective, with 90% success at doses of 1-1.5 mg/kg. However, children under age 2 and those receiving intranasal delivery experienced higher failure rates. For procedures like fracture reduction and burn care, proper dosing and administration route are crucial for optimal pain control.
Abstract
Ketamine is a safe and widely used sedative and analgesic in children. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the response to sedoanalgesia for p...
Functional connectivity of the amygdala subregions and the antidepressant effects of repeated ketamine infusions in major depressive disorder.
European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists – April 04, 2024
Summary
Ketamine's remarkable antidepressant effects may work by rewiring crucial emotional brain networks. Research shows that this fast-acting treatment alters connections between the amygdala, the brain's emotional center, and other regions in people with major depressive disorder. Multiple ketamine doses improved depression by changing how different parts of the amygdala communicate with areas controlling mood and self-reflection. Brain scans before treatment could help predict who will respond best.
Abstract
Amygdala subregion-based network dysfunction has been determined to be centrally implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD). Little is known abo...
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Intraoperative Ketamine for Acute Postsurgical Pain after Breast Cancer Surgery: The Moderating Effect of Baseline Temporal Summation of Pain.
Anesthesiology – July 14, 2025
Summary
Some patients feel more pain after surgery due to how their nervous system processes it. A trial explored if intraoperative ketamine could help. While not universally effective for breast surgery pain, it significantly reduced pain in patients showing a higher tendency for central sensitization. This suggests tailoring pain management to individual patient characteristics for better outcomes.
Abstract
Activation of nociceptive pathways by surgical trauma can induce central sensitization, which is associated with greater pain severity and persiste...
Genome-Wide Translatome Analysis Following Low-Dose Ketamine to Reveal Novel Targets for Antidepressant Treatment.
Synapse (New York, N.Y.) – November 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine offers rapid, lasting relief for severe depression. To uncover its molecular secrets, researchers mapped the brain's protein synthesis changes after a low dose of the antidepressant. They found ketamine initiates a specific program of protein creation, impacting key cellular processes. A key discovery was VIPR2, a novel target. Excitingly, activating VIPR2 in specific brain cells successfully produced an antidepressant response, validating a promising new path for targeted depression treatment.
Abstract
Low-dose ketamine is an efficacious antidepressant for treatment-resistant unipolar and bipolar depressed patients. Major depressive disorder patie...
Effect of a Constant Rate Infusion of Ketamine on a Variable Rate Infusion of Xylazine in Standing Horses Undergoing Ventriculocordectomy and Laryngoplasty.
Veterinary sciences – January 12, 2026
Summary
Adding ketamine to xylazine sedation significantly deepened sedation for 51 horses undergoing standing procedures like ventriculocordectomy (VRI). Horses receiving ketamine via continuous rate infusion (CRI) achieved a deeper sedation score (effect size 2.74) compared to those on xylazine alone. Although ketamine did not reduce xylazine requirements (0.8 vs. 0.9 mg/kg/h), it enhanced the quality of standing sedation for horses without increasing ataxia or causing adverse effects, offering a valuable option.
Abstract
Standing sedation in horses provides immobilization and analgesia for surgery while avoiding the high risks of general anesthesia. Ketamine at suba...
Ketamine in depression and electroconvulsive therapy
Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology – October 01, 2021
Summary
A single intravenous dose of 0.5 mg/kg of ketamine, administered over 40 minutes, delivers a powerful, rapid-onset antidepressant effect. This treatment can alleviate depression and suicidal thoughts within hours, with benefits potentially lasting up to a week. Ketamine and its analog esketamine conclusively demonstrate this swift impact, attributed to improved neuroplasticity in key brain areas. Repeated nasal spray esketamine may prevent depression relapse. Ketamine also enhances seizure quality and could diminish cognitive impairment during electroconvulsive therapy.
Abstract
Purpose of review The antidepressant effect of subanesthetic doses of ketamine was recognized 20 years ago. This review briefly summarizes the curr...
Ketamine for depression
OpenAlex – February 10, 2026
Summary
Ketamine shows promise for individuals suffering from treatment-resistant depression, with a significant portion of patients reporting years of dissatisfaction with standard treatments. A clinical trial involving 100 participants revealed that higher, individualized doses of oral esketamine led to meaningful improvement in 40% of cases. Notably, ketamine was effective for patients with complex conditions like PTSD and those on maintenance electroconvulsive therapy. Combining ketamine with psychotherapy also demonstrated potential benefits, highlighting the need for careful monitoring and tailored approaches in psychiatric care.
Abstract
This thesis explores the use of ketamine in people with treatment-resistant depression. It starts by examining the concept of treatment-resistant d...
Neuronal Population Effects of Ketamine on Human Brain Organoids
OpenAlex – March 10, 2026
Summary
Ketamine significantly alters human brain organoid dynamics, silencing neuronal networks while maintaining firing rates. In 6-month-old forebrain organoids exposed to 20 μg/mL ketamine, population bursting was abolished, with mean firing rates declining in specific "backbone" units. Functional connectivity decreased globally, indicating a reconfiguration of the network. After chronic exposure, these networks developed tolerance, losing backbone units and becoming less active and interconnected. This innovative organoid platform offers insights into ketamine's effects on neural circuits relevant for treating major depression.
Abstract
Abstract Ketamine’s rapid neuropsychiatric actions emerge from interactions that span receptors, cells, and circuits, but their net effects on huma...
Functional connectivity alterations of the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex by ketamine and the modulation by lamotrigine.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – June 19, 2025
Summary
Brain imaging shows Ketamine's mental health benefits relate to altered brain communication. This study investigated if Ketamine's ability to enhance functional connectivity during resting state and working memory tasks depends on glutamate release. In 75 healthy volunteers, Ketamine significantly boosted beneficial functional connectivity in key brain areas. However, lamotrigine pretreatment prevented these positive changes, indicating Ketamine's effects are tied to glutamate.
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies have linked the beneficial effects of subanaesthetic ketamine doses in psychiatric conditions characterized by chronic stress ...
Sex-Specific Neuropsychiatric Effects of Subanesthetic Ketamine Exposure in Pregnant Mice and Their Offspring.
Cellular and molecular neurobiology – July 19, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, brief ketamine exposure during pregnancy in mice showed unexpected positive effects on offspring. Researchers explored if low-dose ketamine affected pregnant mothers and their offspring. Mothers exhibited less depression-like behavior. Strikingly, male offspring later showed reduced anxiety and depression, a positive outcome linked to changes in the hippocampus. This sex-specific effect was associated with higher levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits in male embryonic brains, suggesting a unique developmental impact. These findings highlight how prenatal influences can shape emotional well-being, particularly stress resilience, in a sex-dependent manner.
Abstract
Depression during pregnancy is often overlooked and undertreated. Ketamine has been shown to exert prompt and sustained antidepressant effects in p...
Toxicological Assessment of Ketamine in Juvenile Zebrafish (Danio rerio).
Toxics – January 24, 2025
Summary
Ketamine's effects on young zebrafish reveal surprising insights about its toxicity and behavioral impact. Using advanced monitoring systems and metabolic analysis (UPLC-LTQ/Orbitrap HRMS), researchers found that zebrafish exposed to ketamine showed reduced movement and altered metabolism. The findings demonstrate clear dose-dependent effects, with higher ketamine levels causing greater behavioral changes, offering valuable insights into drug safety.
Abstract
This study investigates the toxic effects of ketamine on juvenile zebrafish, driven by increasing concerns over ketamine's prevalence and its poten...
Midazolam and Ketamine for Convulsive Status Epilepticus in the Out-of-Hospital Setting.
Annals of emergency medicine – April 01, 2025
Summary
When treating severe seizures outside hospitals, combining ketamine with midazolam stops convulsions in 94% of cases - significantly better than using midazolam alone. This breakthrough finding comes from analyzing hundreds of emergency responses in Florida, where adding ketamine helped an additional 14% of patients recover before reaching the hospital, offering new hope for rapid seizure control.
Abstract
To determine if ketamine, when added to midazolam for the treatment of out-of-hospital seizures, is associated with an increase in the rate of cess...
The impact of ketamine on outcomes in critically ill patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Acute and critical care – February 01, 2024
Summary
In intensive care units, managing pain while preventing delirium remains a critical challenge. Ketamine, a versatile anesthetic, shows promise in critical care settings. Analysis of 12 clinical trials involving 805 critically ill patients revealed that ketamine performed similarly to traditional pain management medications for most outcomes. Notably, patients receiving ketamine experienced lower rates of delirium - a significant finding for intensive care unit practice. While equally effective for pain control, ketamine didn't increase hospital stays or mortality rates.
Abstract
This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of ketamine in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We searched for randomized contro...
Efficacy of perioperatively application of ketamine on postoperative depressive symptoms in adult patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.
Journal of affective disorders – May 15, 2024
Summary
A comprehensive meta-analysis reveals that ketamine, while not reducing the overall occurrence of post-surgery depression, significantly improves depression scale scores in surgical patients. The analysis of 29 studies covering 5,327 patients shows that perioperative ketamine administration helps manage postoperative depressive symptoms, offering a promising approach to mental health care during surgical recovery.
Abstract
Whether ketamine used in the perioperative period reduces the risk of postoperative depressive symptoms remains uncertain. We conducted this system...
Ketamine and attentional bias to threat: dynamic causal modeling of magnetoencephalographic connectivity in treatment-resistant depression
medRxiv Preprint Server – February 22, 2021
Summary
A key to rapid depression relief might lie in how brain regions communicate. Researchers explored how `ketamine` impacts `brain activity` in `treatment-resistant depression`. They found `ketamine` significantly reduced `depressive symptoms`. Advanced imaging revealed `ketamine` altered neural pathways, including faster AMPA transmission in the visual cortex, which strongly correlated with improved `mental health`. This illuminates how `ketamine` positively reconfigures `brain activity` to alleviate severe depression.
Abstract
The glutamatergic modulator ketamine rapidly reduces depressive symptoms in individuals with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD) an...
Ketamine treatment effects on DNA methylation and Epigenetic Biomarkers of aging
medRxiv Preprint Server – September 10, 2024
Summary
Did you know psychiatric conditions like depression and PTSD are linked to accelerated biological aging? A recent investigation explored how ketamine infusions impact this. In individuals with depression or PTSD, a short course of ketamine not only significantly reduced symptoms but also positively influenced several epigenetic biomarkers, indicating a remarkable reduction in biological age. This highlights ketamine's potential to alleviate psychiatric distress and beneficially influence the aging process at a cellular level.
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are debilitating psychiatric conditions associated with poor health outcom...
Effect of Ketamine on the Bispectral Index, Spectral Edge Frequency, and Surgical Pleth Index During Propofol-Remifentanil Anesthesia: An Observational Prospective Trial.
Anesthesia and analgesia – November 01, 2024
Summary
During anesthesia, ketamine's impact on brain activity is more nuanced than previously thought. A study involving 14 patients found that while ketamine deepens sedation, key measures of brain activity didn't peak at the highest drug concentration. Instead, these positive changes in brain activity were most pronounced at lower ketamine levels, several minutes after the initial dose. This reveals a delayed, concentration-dependent effect of ketamine on the brain during medical procedures, offering valuable insights. Pain response indicators, however, remained unaffected.
Abstract
Ketamine administration during stable propofol anesthesia is known to be associated with an increase in bispectral index (BIS) but a "deepening" in...
A Novel Tertiary Carbamate Prodrug Strategy to Overcome Metabolic Barriers in Oral Ketamine Delivery.
ChemMedChem – January 01, 2026
Summary
Developing an effective oral ketamine treatment for depression is challenging. A new ketamine prodrug, engineered for improved oral administration and reduced abuse risk, showed limited success. In mice, pharmacokinetics revealed very low bioavailability, with oral doses yielding only low levels of released ketamine in the body. Lab tests detected no ketamine release from the prodrug. This design requires optimization to enhance bioavailability and achieve therapeutically meaningful ketamine delivery.
Abstract
Ketamine, a rapid-acting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, has therapeutic potential beyond anesthesia, including treatment-resistan...
Comparative antidepressant effects and safety of intravenous racemic ketamine, psilocybin and theta burst stimulation for major depressive disorder: A systematic review and network meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports – December 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, and Ketamine, used in Anesthesia and Pharmacology, show superior antidepressant effects for Major depressive disorder compared to theta burst stimulation. A meta-analysis of 28 Randomized controlled trials revealed both drugs, central to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, surpassed Placebo. While Tolerability and Adverse effect profiles were similar, Ketamine demonstrated a rapid onset for Treatment of Major Depression. This Medicine review, relevant to Psychology and Psychiatry, suggests these agents hold significant promise, though further Internal medicine investigation into Psilocybin is warranted.
Abstract
Abstract The individual efficacy and safety of intravenous racemic (IV) ketamine, psilocybin, and theta burst stimulation (TBS) for major depressiv...
Paramedic analgesia comparing ketamine and morphine in trauma (PACKMaN): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial.
The Lancet regional health. Europe – June 01, 2025
Summary
When treating severe trauma pain, paramedics now have evidence comparing two powerful options. In a major UK prehospital study, EMS providers administered either ketamine or morphine to 449 patients in ambulances. Both medications proved equally effective for pain control, with similar safety profiles. While ketamine didn't outperform morphine as hoped, it remains a viable alternative for paramedics treating acute trauma pain.
Abstract
Paramedics frequently administer analgesic medications for pain following trauma. Morphine is the most commonly administered strong analgesic. Howe...
The ketamine chameleon: history, pharmacology, and the contested value of experience.
Expert review of clinical pharmacology – March 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine's remarkable versatility in medicine spans from battlefield anesthesia to breakthrough depression treatments. This unique compound's effects shift dramatically based on dosage and context - acting as a medical chameleon. While biomedical psychiatry initially viewed its psychoactive effects as merely dissociative, modern neuroscience and psychedelic psychiatry recognize these experiences as potentially therapeutic, especially when paired with proper support and preparation.
Abstract
Since its synthesis in 1962, ketamine has been widely used in diverse medical contexts, from anesthesia to treatment-resistant depression. However,...
Ketamine's Amelioration of Fear Extinction in Adolescent Male Mice Is Associated with the Activation of the Hippocampal Akt-mTOR-GluA1 Pathway.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) – May 22, 2024
Summary
Ketamine shows promise in treating fear-related disorders by enhancing the brain's ability to overcome fearful memories. New research reveals that this drug activates specific pathways in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex during adolescence, a critical period for emotional development. The findings demonstrate that ketamine helps young brains better process and reduce fear responses through mTOR signaling, offering hope for more effective anxiety treatments.
Abstract
Fear-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders are pervasive psychiatric conditions marked by persi...
Ketamine in clinical practice: transitioning from anesthetic agent to psychiatric therapeutic.
CNS spectrums – June 30, 2025
Summary
Once primarily an anesthetic, ketamine is now recognized for its remarkable rapid antidepressant effects, particularly in severe depression. This versatile agent, despite its challenges as a recreational drug, offers a novel approach to mood regulation. Its medical utility extends beyond anesthesia to pain management and potential anti-inflammatory benefits, showcasing its significant positive impact and evolving role in modern medicine.
Abstract
Ketamine, originally synthesized in 1962, has gained increasing attention due to its rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in treatment-resist...