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Original Research

Rapid Resolution of Suicidal Ideation After a Single Infusion of an N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Antagonist in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder

Nancy DiazGranados, MD, MS; Lobna A. Ibrahim, MD; Nancy E. Brutsche, MSN; Rezvan Ameli, PhD; Ioline D. Henter, MA; David A. Luckenbaugh, MA; Rodrigo Machado-Vieira, MD, PhD; and Carlos A. Zarate Jr, MD

Published: July 13, 2010

Article Abstract

Objective: Suicidal ideation is a medical emergency, especially when severe. Little research has been done on pharmacologic interventions that could address this problem. Ketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist, has been reported to have antidepressant effects within hours. We examined the effects of a single dose of ketamine on suicidal ideation in subjects with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD).

Method: Thirty-three subjects with DSM-IV-diagnosed MDD received a single open-label infusion of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) and were rated at baseline and at 40, 80, 120, and 230 minutes postinfusion with the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI), the Montgomery-Šsberg Depression Rating Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. The study was conducted between October 2006 and January 2009.

Results: Suicidal ideation scores decreased significantly on the SSI as well as on the suicide subscales of other rating instruments within 40 minutes; these decreases remained significant through the first 4 hours postinfusion (P < .001). Ten subjects (30%) had an SSI score ≥ 4 at baseline; all these scores dropped below 4 (9 dropped by 40 minutes and 1 by 80 minutes). For those patients with a starting score below 4 on the SSI, only 1 reached a score of 4. Depression, anxiety, and hopelessness were significantly improved at all time points (P < .001).

Conclusions: Suicidal ideation in the context of MDD improved within 40 minutes of a ketamine infusion and remained improved for up to 4 hours postinfusion. Future studies with ketamine in suicidal ideation are warranted due to the potential impact on public health.

Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00088699

J Clin Psychiatry

Submitted: May 4, 2009; accepted July 14, 2009.

Online ahead of print: July 13, 2010 (doi:10.4088/JCP.09m05327blu).

Corresponding author: Carlos A. Zarate Jr, MD, 10 Center Drive, CRC, 7 Southeast Unit, Room 7-3465, Bethesda, MD 20892 ([email protected]).

Volume: 71

Quick Links: Depression (MDD) , Suicide

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