View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Ketamine for unipolar depression: A systematic review of efficacy and safety.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Ketamine for unipolar depression: A systematic review of efficacy and safety.
Authors: Edwin Peiris, Tharshanan (AUTHOR), Pokhrel, Amrit (AUTHOR), Paudel, Yuvaraj (AUTHOR)
Source: Australasian Psychiatry. Jun2025, Vol. 33 Issue 3, p376-388. 13p.
Subjects: Ketamine, Mental depression, Treatment effectiveness, Antidepressants, Safety, Adverse health care events
Abstract: Background: Unipolar depression is a prevalent mental health disorder with persistent, treatment-resistant symptoms. Traditional antidepressants take weeks to show effects, underscoring the need for faster alternatives. Ketamine, originally an anaesthetic, has emerged as a rapid-acting antidepressant. Objective: This systematic review evaluates ketamine's efficacy and safety in unipolar depression. Methods: A literature search (January 2000–May 2024) in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library included RCTs, CCTs, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and observational studies on ketamine or esketamine in formally diagnosed individuals. Study characteristics, interventions, outcomes, and adverse events were analyzed, with quality and bias assessments. Results: Across 44 studies, ketamine significantly reduced depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation within hours, particularly in treatment-resistant cases, with effects lasting up to 1 week. Common side effects included transient dissociation, elevated blood pressure, nausea, and dizziness, while long-term safety remains uncertain. Conclusions: Ketamine shows promise as a rapid antidepressant for treatment-resistant unipolar depression. However, long-term safety and optimal treatment protocols require further research. Careful clinical integration with monitoring is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Australasian Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 185681954
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Ketamine for unipolar depression: A systematic review of efficacy and safety.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Edwin+Peiris%2C+Tharshanan%22">Edwin Peiris, Tharshanan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pokhrel%2C+Amrit%22">Pokhrel, Amrit</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Paudel%2C+Yuvaraj%22">Paudel, Yuvaraj</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Australasian+Psychiatry%22">Australasian Psychiatry</searchLink>. Jun2025, Vol. 33 Issue 3, p376-388. 13p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ketamine%22">Ketamine</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+depression%22">Mental depression</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Treatment+effectiveness%22">Treatment effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Antidepressants%22">Antidepressants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Safety%22">Safety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adverse+health+care+events%22">Adverse health care events</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Unipolar depression is a prevalent mental health disorder with persistent, treatment-resistant symptoms. Traditional antidepressants take weeks to show effects, underscoring the need for faster alternatives. Ketamine, originally an anaesthetic, has emerged as a rapid-acting antidepressant. Objective: This systematic review evaluates ketamine's efficacy and safety in unipolar depression. Methods: A literature search (January 2000–May 2024) in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library included RCTs, CCTs, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and observational studies on ketamine or esketamine in formally diagnosed individuals. Study characteristics, interventions, outcomes, and adverse events were analyzed, with quality and bias assessments. Results: Across 44 studies, ketamine significantly reduced depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation within hours, particularly in treatment-resistant cases, with effects lasting up to 1 week. Common side effects included transient dissociation, elevated blood pressure, nausea, and dizziness, while long-term safety remains uncertain. Conclusions: Ketamine shows promise as a rapid antidepressant for treatment-resistant unipolar depression. However, long-term safety and optimal treatment protocols require further research. Careful clinical integration with monitoring is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Australasian Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=185681954
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/10398562251328805
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 376
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Ketamine
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental depression
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Treatment effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Antidepressants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Safety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adverse health care events
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Ketamine for unipolar depression: A systematic review of efficacy and safety.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Edwin Peiris, Tharshanan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Pokhrel, Amrit
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Paudel, Yuvaraj
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 10398562
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 33
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Australasian Psychiatry
              Type: main
ResultId 1