TDNet Discover

Suicide is a devastating public health problem, and few pharmacological treatments have been found to be effective for quickly reducing suicidal ideation (SI). Because antidepressants take four to six weeks to become effective, the only acute treatment options for SI in depressed patients are 72-hour psychiatric hospitalizations and short-term electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This leaves a need for a rapid-acting and effective medical treatment to reverse acute suicidal ideation. This study investigates the efficacy of immediate ketamine intervention. The design of this study is a systematic literature review with high level information for the general understanding of the readers. The results of the three studies presented in this paper, show a significant improvement in a patient's outlook after treatment with ketamine. These patients are significantly more likely to be free of SI for a longer duration post infusion, compared to other treatments that have been used. This analysis describes provider considerations when making the decision to treat with ketamine and important side effects to closely monitor following initial intervention. The current findings provide initial support for the safety and tolerability of ketamine as an intervention for SI in patients who are at elevated risk for suicidal behavior. While it may be too early to label ketamine as a universal solution for treating suicidal tendencies, larger, well-powered studies in the future are warranted.