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A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
Published on: February 22, 2018
Side-effects associated with ketamine use in depression: a systematic review
Brooke Short1, Joanna Fong2, Veronica Galvez3
1New South Wales Institute of Psychiatry, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Black Dog Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Ketamine treatment for depression shows more side-effects than placebo, especially after single doses. More research is needed on long-term safety and repeated ketamine dosing for depression.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- Ketamine is increasingly used for depression.
- Its safety profile, particularly with repeated dosing, requires thorough investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the safety of ketamine for depression.
- To assess side-effects after single and repeated doses.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 288 articles identified from major databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane).
- 60 articles met inclusion criteria for analysis.
Main Results:
- Acute ketamine dosing in depression patients led to more psychiatric, psychotomimetic, cardiovascular, and neurological side-effects compared to placebo.
- Evidence for long-term safety and effects of repeated dosing is limited and potentially biased.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence suggests a need for caution regarding ketamine's acute side-effects in depression.
- Large-scale trials with multiple doses and long-term follow-up are recommended to establish the safety of regular ketamine use.
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