Maintenance ketamine treatment for depression: a systematic review of efficacy, safety, and tolerability

Sanne Y. Smith-Apeldoorn*, Jolien KE Veraart, Jan Spijker, Jeanine Kamphuis, Robert A. Schoevers

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

66 Citations (Scopus)
1544 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Ketamine has rapid yet often transient antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Different strategies have been proposed to prolong these effects. Maintenance ketamine treatment appears promising, but little is known about its efficacy, safety, and tolerability in depression. We searched Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library and identified three randomised controlled trials, eight open-label trials, and 30 case series and reports on maintenance ketamine treatment. We found intravenous, intranasal, oral, and possibly intramuscular and subcutaneous maintenance ketamine treatment to be effective in sustaining antidepressant effect in treatment-resistant depression. Tachyphylaxis, cognitive impairment, addiction, and serious renal and urinary problems seem uncommon. Despite the methodological limitations, we conclude that from a clinical view, maintenance ketamine treatment seems to be of therapeutic potential. We recommend both controlled and naturalistic studies with long-term follow-up and sufficient power to determine the position of maintenance ketamine treatment within routine clinical practice.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)907-921
Number of pages15
JournalThe Lancet Psychiatry
Volume9
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov-2022

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