The potential of ketamine for posttraumatic stress disorder: a review of clinical evidence
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a devastating condition, for which there are few pharmacological agents, often with a delayed onset of action and poor efficacy. Trauma-focused psychotherapies are further limited by few trained providers and low patient engagement. This frequently results in disease chronicity as well as psychiatric and medical comorbidity, with considerable negative impact on quality of life. As such, off-label interventions are commonly used for PTSD, particularly in chronic refractory cases. Ketamine, an N -methyl-D-aspartate (NDMA) receptor antagonist, has recently been indicated for major depression, exhibiting rapid and robust antidepressant effects. It also shows transdiagnostic potential for an array of psychiatric disorders. Here, we synthesize clinical evidence on ketamine in PTSD, spanning case reports, chart reviews, open-label studies, and randomized trials. Overall, there is high heterogeneity in clinical presentation and pharmacological approach, yet encouraging signals of therapeutic safety, efficacy, and durability. Avenues for future research are discussed.
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,300
Funders: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Yale University, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Department of Health and Social Care, University of Cambridge, National Institutes of Health, University of California, Los Angeles, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
OpenAlex ID: W4323342181