Ketamine treatment for individuals with treatment-resistant depression: longitudinal qualitative interview study of patient experiences.

ketamine mood side-effects suicidal ideation treatment-resistant depression

Journal

BJPsych open
ISSN: 2056-4724
Titre abrégé: BJPsych Open
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101667931

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
07 Dec 2020
Historique:
entrez: 7 12 2020
pubmed: 8 12 2020
medline: 8 12 2020
Statut: epublish

Résumé

Ketamine has recently received considerable attention regarding its antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects. Trials have generally focused on short-term effects of single intravenous infusions. Research on patient experiences is lacking. To investigate the experiences over time of individuals receiving ketamine treatment in a routine clinic, including impacts on mood and suicidality. Twelve fee-paying patients with treatment-resistant depression (6 females, 6 males, age 21-70 years; 11 reporting suicidality and 6 reporting self-harm) who were assessed as eligible for ketamine treatment participated in up to three semi-structured interviews: before treatment started, a few weeks into treatment and ≥2 months later. Data were analysed thematically. Most participants hoped that ketamine would provide respite from their depression. Nearly all experienced improvement in mood following initial treatments, ranging from negligible to dramatic, and eight reported a reduction in suicidality. Improvements were transitory for most participants, although two experienced sustained consistent benefit and two had sustained but limited improvement. Some participants described hopelessness when treatment stopped working, paralleled by increased suicidal ideation for three participants. The transient nature and cost of treatment were problematic. Eleven participants experienced side-effects, which were significant for two participants. Suggestions for improving treatment included closer monitoring and adjunctive psychological therapy. Ketamine treatment was generally experienced as effective in improving mood and reducing suicidal ideation in the short term, but the lack of longer-term benefit was challenging for participants, as was treatment cost. Informed consent procedures should refer to the possibilities of relapse and associated increased hopelessness and suicidality.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Ketamine has recently received considerable attention regarding its antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects. Trials have generally focused on short-term effects of single intravenous infusions. Research on patient experiences is lacking.
AIMS OBJECTIVE
To investigate the experiences over time of individuals receiving ketamine treatment in a routine clinic, including impacts on mood and suicidality.
METHOD METHODS
Twelve fee-paying patients with treatment-resistant depression (6 females, 6 males, age 21-70 years; 11 reporting suicidality and 6 reporting self-harm) who were assessed as eligible for ketamine treatment participated in up to three semi-structured interviews: before treatment started, a few weeks into treatment and ≥2 months later. Data were analysed thematically.
RESULTS RESULTS
Most participants hoped that ketamine would provide respite from their depression. Nearly all experienced improvement in mood following initial treatments, ranging from negligible to dramatic, and eight reported a reduction in suicidality. Improvements were transitory for most participants, although two experienced sustained consistent benefit and two had sustained but limited improvement. Some participants described hopelessness when treatment stopped working, paralleled by increased suicidal ideation for three participants. The transient nature and cost of treatment were problematic. Eleven participants experienced side-effects, which were significant for two participants. Suggestions for improving treatment included closer monitoring and adjunctive psychological therapy.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
Ketamine treatment was generally experienced as effective in improving mood and reducing suicidal ideation in the short term, but the lack of longer-term benefit was challenging for participants, as was treatment cost. Informed consent procedures should refer to the possibilities of relapse and associated increased hopelessness and suicidality.

Identifiants

pubmed: 33283696
doi: 10.1192/bjo.2020.132
pii: S2056472420001325
pmc: PMC7791565
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

e9

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Auteurs

Karen Lascelles (K)

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust; and Centre for Suicide Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, UK.

Lisa Marzano (L)

Faculty of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, UK.

Fiona Brand (F)

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust; and Centre for Suicide Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, UK.

Hayley Trueman (H)

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Rupert McShane (R)

Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford; and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Keith Hawton (K)

Centre for Suicide Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford; and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Classifications MeSH