Serial Ketamine Infusions as Adjunctive Therapy to Inpatient Care for Depression

For inpatients with moderate to severe depression, is repeated intravenous ketamine superior to a psychoactive placebo (midazolam) in reducing depressive symptoms?In this randomized clinical trial, there was no statistically significant difference in the primary outcome, end-of-treatment Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score, between the ketamine and midazolam groups. No significant differences were observed on secondary efficacy, cognitive, economic, or quality-of-life outcomes.These findings do not support a superior antidepressant effect for serial intravenous ketamine infusions as an adjunctive therapy to usual inpatient care for moderate to severe depression.

Corresponding Author: Declan M. McLoughlin, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, St Patrick’s University Hospital, James Street, Dublin D08 K7YW, Ireland (d.mcloughlin@tcd.ie).

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