A study conducted by the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor VA Medical Care System found that nearly half of 215 veterans with treatment-resistant depression benefited from six weeks of ketamine infusions. The research, led by Dr. Paul Pfeiffer and Dr. Avinash Hosanagar, both professors of psychiatry, followed patients for a year after the infusions.
The results showed that patients, who received an average of 18 infusions over several months, experienced a significant reduction in depression symptoms. Although it was not a “silver bullet”, as Dr. Pfeiffer highlighted, around 15% of patients achieved remission of depression after six weeks of treatment.
Ketamine, a drug once associated with partying, has been studied as a potent, fast-acting antidepressant. However, the results of the “real world” study differ from previous clinical trials, reducing the hype surrounding the drug. The study highlights the importance of ketamine as a new option for severe cases of depression, even if it is not an instant solution.
Recently published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, the study highlights ketamine as a promising alternative for treating treatment-resistant depression. The research, however, highlights the need for more studies on the administration and effects of the medication.
Ketamine, recently approved by the US FDA in a nasal aerosol form called esketamine, has generated interest as a new approach to treating depression. The University of Michigan study sheds light on the drug’s therapeutic potential, paving the way for a new paradigm in treating treatment-resistant depression.
(Source: University of Michigan, February 5, 2024)