Ketamine found to be at least as effective as ECT for treating major depression

A new study led by investigators from Mass General Brigham has found that subanesthetic intravenous ketamine was effective and not inferior to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for the treatment of non-psychotic, treatment-resistant depression.

The trial was conducted from March 2017 to September 2022 at five sites with 403 patients randomized one-to-one to either receive ECT three times per week or ketamine twice per week for three weeks. Patients were followed for a period of six months after treatment and responded to a depressive symptom self-assessment questionnaire, which also included memory tests and questions about quality of life.

The researchers found that 55 percent of those receiving ketamine and 41 percent of those receiving ECT reported at least a 50 percent improvement in their self-reported depressive symptoms and an improvement in their self-reported quality of life that lasted throughout the six-month monitoring period. ECT treatment was associated with memory loss and musculoskeletal adverse effects. Ketamine treatment was not associated with side effects other than an experience of transient dissociation at the time of treatment.

Reference:

Anand, A. et al. “ECT vs. Ketamine for Non-psychotic Treatment-Resistant Major Depression.” New England Journal of Medicine DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2302399