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Use of Ketamine in Elderly Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression

Current Psychiatry Reports volume 19, Article number: 107 (2017) Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the use of ketamine as an antidepressant for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in the geriatric population. Available treatment options for late-life treatment-resistant depression are limited and include electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation as well as possible pharmacologic augmentation. Ketamine has been shown to be a promising treatment in TRD; however, data regarding the use of ketamine in the elderly includes only five case reports.

Recent Findings

We discuss the use of ketamine for late-life TRD and present two cases where ketamine led to a significant and sustained improvement in depressive symptoms.

Summary

Ketamine is a promising treatment for geriatric patients with TRD. Further studies in the elderly will provide valuable insights into the use of ketamine for a population much in need of safe and effective treatments for TRD.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, 12 Executive Park Dr., suite 500, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA

    Carolina Medeiros da Frota Ribeiro & Patricio Riva-Posse

Authors
  1. Carolina Medeiros da Frota Ribeiro
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  2. Patricio Riva-Posse
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patricio Riva-Posse.

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Conflict of Interest

Carolina Medeiros da Frota Ribeiro declares no conflict of interest.

Patricio Riva-Posse has received consulting fees from Johnson & Johnson.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Geriatric Disorders

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Medeiros da Frota Ribeiro, C., Riva-Posse, P. Use of Ketamine in Elderly Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression. Curr Psychiatry Rep 19, 107 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0855-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0855-x

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Ketamine
  • Elderly
  • Antidepressants
  • Resistant
  • Geriatric