Repeated intravenous ketamine benefits patients with treatment‐resistant depression

Intravenous ketamine given twice a week or three times a week produced sustained antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant depression, compared with placebo. Because both dosing frequencies showed similar results, a twice-weekly regimen may be a suitable initial repeated-dose approach for this population.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Intravenous ketamine administered twice a week or three times a week resulted in sustained antidepressant effects compared with placebo in a group of patients with treatment‐resistant depression, a new study has found. Based on similar results between the two dosing frequencies, the researchers indicated that a twice‐weekly regimen could serve as an initial repeated‐dose strategy in this population.