Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Systematic Review

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Ketamine has attracted considerable attention as a novel treatment for depression due to its rapid and potent

antidepressant effect. On the one hand, this drug has attracted the attention of specialists treating treatment

resistant depressive disorders as an alternative drug for therapeutic methods such as electroconvulsive therapy

(ECT), and on the other hand, due to its properties and positive therapeutic performance in preventing suicide and

side effects. Low cognition and the possibility of a faster effect and a good durability of the therapeutic effects,

especially in the case of repeated ketamine injections, are of interest. Therefore, we reviewed and discussed the

mechanism of ketamine's effect and its performance in treatment-resistant depression, as well as the positive

points and side effects of Ketamine.

Methodology

A computerized search of the databases was conducted between January 2014 and September 2024 using the

following keywords, including “Depression”, “Ketamine” and “Treatment-resistant Depression”.

Results

After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria and appraising the quality, eight studies were included and the data

were extracted. Some of the articles reported the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine. Few studies

represented long-term effects and only one study showed no effectiveness of this treatment.

Conclusion

Ketamine represents a significant advancement in managing TRD, demonstrating rapid effects and potential

improvements in mood and cognitive function. However, the necessity for repeated treatments and ongoing

research into long-term effects and safety remains critical to fully understanding its role in depression

management.