Rapid and longer-term antidepressant effects of repeated ketamine infusions in treatment-resistant major depression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ketamine is reported to have rapid antidepressant effects; however, there is limited understanding of the time-course of ketamine effects beyond a single infusion. A previous report including 10 participants with treatment-resistant major depression (TRD) found that six ketamine infusions resulted in a sustained antidepressant effect. In the current report, we examined the pattern and durability of antidepressant effects of repeated ketamine infusions in a larger sample, inclusive of the original.

Methods

Participants with TRD (n = 24) underwent a washout of antidepressant medication followed by a series of up to six IV infusions of ketamine (.5 mg/kg) administered open-label three times weekly over a 12-day period. Participants meeting response criteria were moni

SUBMITTER: Murrough JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3725185 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature