OPEN Foundation

C. da Frota Ribeiro

Reply to: Ketamine and Psychosis History: Antidepressant Efficacy and Psychotomimetic Effects Postinfusion

Abstract

New and encouraging findings regarding the use of ketamine for depression in the context of psychotic symptoms have been published by Pennybaker et al. (1). In their analysis, patients with bipolar disorder without a history of psychosis had a more robust response to ketamine, and patients with a history of psychosis had a significant response compared with placebo as well. Concerning dissociative symptoms, even though patients with a history of psychosis endorsed more symptoms, these were not maintained after a 40-minute period, and no full psychosis was induced in their sample.

da Frota Ribeiro, C. M., Sanacora, G., & Ostroff, R. (2017). Reply to: Ketamine and Psychosis History: Antidepressant Efficacy and Psychotomimetic Effects Postinfusion. Biological Psychiatry. 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.01.012
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The use of ketamine for the treatment of depression in the context of psychotic symptoms

Abstract

Mounting evidence from a series of small clinical trials and case series suggests ketamine can have rapid and robust antidepressant(1), and possibly anti-suicidal effects(2) in patients who had not responded to standard treatment options. However, due to ketamine’s variable psychotomimetic effects in healthy volunteers and exacerbation of previously experienced positive symptoms in schizophrenic volunteers(3,4), patients previously experiencing psychotic features have been excluded from the reported studies and trials.

da Frota Ribeiro, C. M., Sanacora, G., Hoffman, R., & Ostroff, R. (2015). The use of ketamine for the treatment of depression in the context of psychotic symptoms. Biological Psychiatry. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.05.016
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30 April - Q&A with Rick Strassman

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