Real-world effectiveness of repeated ketamine infusions for treatment resistant depression during the COVID-19 pandemic
Di Vincenzo, J. D., Kratiuk, K., Lee, Y., Lipsitz, O., McIntyre, R. S., Rodrigues, N. B., Rosenblat, J. D., Subramaniapillai, M.
This open-label study (n=267) investigated if Covid had any impact on the effectiveness of ketamine treatments (iv, 4x 35-53mg/70kg) for depression (TRD). Patients in both groups experience significant and comparable improvements in depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation (SI), and anxiety.
Abstract
Herein we evaluate the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on antidepressant effectiveness of intravenous (IV) ketamine in adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We conducted a case series analysis of adults with TRD (n = 267) who received four ketamine infusions at an outpatient clinic in Ontario, Canada, during COVID-19 restrictions (from March 2020 - February 2021; n = 107), compared to patients who received treatment in the previous year (March 2019 - February 2020; n = 160). Both groups experienced significant and comparable improvements in depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and anxiety with repeated ketamine infusions. Effectiveness of IV ketamine was not attenuated during the COVID-19 period.