Comparing Ketamine and Propofol Anesthesia for Electroconvulsive Therapy

This parallel-group randomised trial tests whether ketamine as the anaesthetic for ECT improves depressive symptoms compared with propofol in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Patients receive anaesthesia with ketamine 0.75 mg/kg IV or propofol 1 mg/kg IV, both with remifentanil 1 mcg/kg; efficacy assessed by MADRS and clinical measures.

Planned interim safety analyses were described after 20 and 40 patients; an independent safety committee reviews adverse events and may adjust dosing or discontinue the trial.