Ketamine in the Treatment of Depression
Urszula Kaczmarska, Michał Jakub Cioch, Julia Nowak, Aleksandra Woźniak, Kamil Hermanowicz, Agnieszka Najdek, Daria Oleksy, Dawid Komada, Katarzyna Doman, Marcin Mycyk
Journal of Education Health and Sport February 17, 2025 DOI: 10.12775/jehs.2025.78.57672 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractDepression is a common mental illness affecting several percent of adults. This article reviews available knowledge on ketamine as a treatment for depression, covering epidemiology, etiology, side effects, and treatment methods. After over half a century without novel targets for major depressive disorder, ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression represent a promising breakthrough. The authors conclude that a new era of antidepressant strategies is imminent, and careful analysis of benefits and harms is needed.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ketamine |
| Keywords | Depression economics Medicine Psychology Psychiatry |
| Key finding | Ketamine shows rapid antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression, offering a novel target for major depressive disorder treatment. |
Abstract
Introduction Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Over the course of a lifetime, several percent of the adult population suffers from depression. There are many treatments for depression like pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. In this article, we wanted to focus on the effectiveness of ketamine in treating depression. Aim of study The study aimed to summarize the available knowledge on the use of ketamine in the treatment of depression. The epidemiology, etiology, side effects, and treatment methods, were summarized and described. Materials and method The literature available in the PubMed database was reviewed using the following keywords: “Ketamine”,” Depression”, and “Antidepressants”. Conclusion Without a doubt, ketamine has proven to be a new advocate for mental health research and therapeutics. After over half a century without novel targets for MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) treatment, the observation of ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression has become a promising field that could represent a breakthrough in the understanding of MDD, and the possibility of reducing some of the major personal and global burden that depression is responsible for. It seems imminent then that a new era of different acting antidepressant strategies is upon us, and it is our responsibility to make a critical analysis of the potential benefits and harm inherent to novel therapeutics.