Journal article
Oral ketamine reduces the experience of stress in people with chronic suicidality
Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol.300, pp.410-417
2022
PMID: 35016117
Abstract
Background:
Stress is prevalent in people experiencing suicidality and is a major contributor to the development of mental disorders. Evidence suggests ketamine shows capacity to reverse stress-induced brain changes. Though stress and ketamine have been explored individually for suicidality, this study is the first to examine ketamine treatment for self-reported stress in adults with chronic suicidality, building on pre-clinical evidence of ketamine's capacity to normalize stress-induced responses and contributing to our understanding of oral ketamine in clinical populations.
Methods:
Thirty two adult participants (22–72 years; 17 female) with chronic suicidality completed 6 weeks of active treatment, receiving low (0.5 mg/kg – 3.0 mg/kg) doses of oral ketamine once per week, with a 4-week follow-up phase, to assess the effect of ketamine on their perceived stress. Stress was measured via self-report utilizing the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21(DASS-21), and analysed at pre-treatment (week 0), post-treatment (week 6) and at follow-up (week 10).
Results:
Repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant reduction in stress (p<.001) post-treatment and Reliable Change Index calculations confirmed this to be clinically significant. Furthermore, those classified as ‘prolonged responders’ demonstrated a sustained reduction in stress at follow-up (i.e. after 4 weeks of nil ketamine).
Limitations:
Small sample size, open label design, expectancy, secondary analysis
Conclusions:
Ketamine showed the capacity to produce a robust and sustained improvement in stress symptoms, in people with chronic suicidality. Future larger, controlled studies examining treatment suitability in a range of stress related disorders are warranted.
Details
- Title
- Oral ketamine reduces the experience of stress in people with chronic suicidality
- Authors
- Megan Dutton (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteAdem T Can (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteDenise Beaudequin (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteEmma Jensen (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteMonique Jones (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteCyrana C Gallay (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstitutePaul E Schwenn (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteJennifer K Scherman (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteCian Yang (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteGrace Forsyth (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteJim Lagopoulos (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteDaniel F Hermens (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
- Publication details
- Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol.300, pp.410-417
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.018
- ISSN
- 1573-2517
- PMID
- 35016117
- Organisation Unit
- Office of Research; Thompson Institute; External; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99603207102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry
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