Ketamine for comorbid treatment-resistant depression and substance use disorders: balancing risks and opportunities
Pharmacological Reports March 11, 2026 Benjamin D. Brody, Dora Kanellopoulos 1 citation
People with both substance use disorders and treatment-resistant depression are more likely to respond to ketamine, which is effective for depression but also has misuse potential. The authors contrast a biological mechanism with a possible expectancy effect to explain this link, and advise weighing risks and benefits when using ketamine for these patients.