Ketamine proves beneficial to treat suicidal ideations

Depression is the most common underling cause in suicidal patients. None of the currently available antidepressants are capable of inducing immediate antisuicidal effect, leaving a considerable number of patients struggling with suicidal thoughts. A recent study published in Indian Journal of Psychiatry by Pathak et al has shown that ketamine can fulfil this efficacy gap created by the delayed anti-suicidal onset by virtue of its rapid onset of action.

Exploration of rapid antisuicidal efficacy of ketamine in Indian subpopulation can be a good preventive pharmacological option for unprecedented rise in suicides in India. Currently, very few treatment modalities are available to be effective for curbing suicidal thoughts. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is still considered an acute indication to abort the suicidal thoughts due to its rapid response, but it is a partly invasive procedure and besides procedural and anesthesia-related complications, poses consent-related issues.

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Ketamine shows speedy improvement in suicidal ideations, IJP study.