TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2013//
TI  - Rapid and longer-term antidepressant effects of repeated ketamine infusions in treatment-resistant major depression
JO  - Biological psychiatry
A1  - Murrough, James W.
A1  - Perez, Andrew M.
A1  - Pillemer, Sarah
A1  - Stern, Jessica
A1  - Parides, Michael K.
A1  - aan het Rot, Marije
A1  - Collins, Katherine A.
A1  - Mathew, Sanjay J.
A1  - Charney, Dennis S.
A1  - Iosifescu, Dan V.
SP  - 250
EP  - 256
VL  - 74
IS  - 4
N2  - 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. <br><br>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 monitored for relapse for up to 83 days from the last infusion. <br><br>RESULTS: The overall response rate at study end was 70.8%. There was a large mean decrease in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score at 2 hours after the first ketamine infusion (18.9 ± 6.6, p <.001), and this decrease was largely sustained for the duration of the infusion period. Response at study end was strongly predicted by response at 4 hours (94% sensitive, 71% specific). Among responders, median time to relapse after the last ketamine infusion was 18 days. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Ketamine was associated with a rapid antidepressant effect in TRD that was predictive of a sustained effect. Future controlled studies will be required to identify strategies to maintain an antidepressant response among patients who benefit from a course of ketamine.<br><br>Copyright © 2013 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0006-3223
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.06.022
ID  - ref1
ER  -