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. 2018 Mar 23;7(1):16-23.
doi: 10.9740/mhc.2017.01.016. eCollection 2017 Jan.

Ketamine for the treatment of major depressive disorder and bipolar depression: A review of the literature

Sarah E Grady  1 , Travis A Marsh  2 , Allison Tenhouse  3 , Kelsey Klein  4
Affiliations

Ketamine for the treatment of major depressive disorder and bipolar depression: A review of the literature

Sarah E Grady et al. Ment Health Clin. .

Abstract

Introduction: Over the past decade, ketamine has been studied for major depressive disorder and bipolar depression. Ketamine is believed to exert its antidepressant properties through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism.

Methods: Study authors completed a literature review of seven randomized controlled trials of ketamine usage in major depressive disorder and bipolar depression.

Results: Ketamine demonstrated a statistically significant improvement over placebo or midazolam in major depressive disorder. Ketamine also exhibited a statistically significant improvement over placebo in bipolar depression.

Discussion: Ketamine has shown promise in quickly reducing symptoms in patients with treatment resistant depression and bipolar depression. Using ketamine may be helpful for patients that have exhausted other therapeutic options.

Keywords: NMDA antagonist; bipolar depression; depression; ketamine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: The authors of this manuscript have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Comment in

References

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