Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Active mechanisms of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy : A systematic review

Joneborg, Isak ; Lee, Yena ; Di Vincenzo, Joshua D. ; Ceban, Felicia ; Meshkat, Shakila ; Lui, Leanna M.W. ; Fancy, Farhan ; Rosenblat, Joshua D. and McIntyre, Roger S. (2022) In Journal of Affective Disorders 315. p.105-112
Abstract

Background: Few studies have evaluated the efficacy of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and substance use disorders (SUD). Methods: A systematic review of clinical trials reporting on the efficacy of KAP and discussing mechanisms of action, identified on PubMed and PsycInfo. Results: Five randomized-controlled trials reported on the efficacy of KAP treatment and discussed active mechanisms. Four of the studies treated adults with SUD and a single study treated adults with TRD. Overall, KAP had a significant positive effect on primary outcome measures compared to controls, however, the data is mixed. The study examining KAP for TRD found no benefit. Limitations: Lack of large,... (More)

Background: Few studies have evaluated the efficacy of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and substance use disorders (SUD). Methods: A systematic review of clinical trials reporting on the efficacy of KAP and discussing mechanisms of action, identified on PubMed and PsycInfo. Results: Five randomized-controlled trials reported on the efficacy of KAP treatment and discussed active mechanisms. Four of the studies treated adults with SUD and a single study treated adults with TRD. Overall, KAP had a significant positive effect on primary outcome measures compared to controls, however, the data is mixed. The study examining KAP for TRD found no benefit. Limitations: Lack of large, replicated clinical trials. No studies actively examining mechanisms of action. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that temporary neural changes caused by ketamine such as n-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) inhibition and increase of synaptic neuroplasticity affect treatment outcomes of KAP. Based on reports of preliminary findings, we speculate that adjunct psychotherapy, changes in perspective, and spirituality may also play a role.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Ketamine, Mood disorders, Psychedelics, Psychotherapy, Rapid acting antidepressants, Substance-use
in
Journal of Affective Disorders
volume
315
pages
8 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:35905796
  • scopus:85136252028
ISSN
0165-0327
DOI
10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.030
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
f7d66643-6da7-4805-8272-73053c8d7e07
date added to LUP
2022-10-07 13:40:23
date last changed
2024-04-18 14:50:33
@article{f7d66643-6da7-4805-8272-73053c8d7e07,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Few studies have evaluated the efficacy of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and substance use disorders (SUD). Methods: A systematic review of clinical trials reporting on the efficacy of KAP and discussing mechanisms of action, identified on PubMed and PsycInfo. Results: Five randomized-controlled trials reported on the efficacy of KAP treatment and discussed active mechanisms. Four of the studies treated adults with SUD and a single study treated adults with TRD. Overall, KAP had a significant positive effect on primary outcome measures compared to controls, however, the data is mixed. The study examining KAP for TRD found no benefit. Limitations: Lack of large, replicated clinical trials. No studies actively examining mechanisms of action. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that temporary neural changes caused by ketamine such as n-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) inhibition and increase of synaptic neuroplasticity affect treatment outcomes of KAP. Based on reports of preliminary findings, we speculate that adjunct psychotherapy, changes in perspective, and spirituality may also play a role.</p>}},
  author       = {{Joneborg, Isak and Lee, Yena and Di Vincenzo, Joshua D. and Ceban, Felicia and Meshkat, Shakila and Lui, Leanna M.W. and Fancy, Farhan and Rosenblat, Joshua D. and McIntyre, Roger S.}},
  issn         = {{0165-0327}},
  keywords     = {{Ketamine; Mood disorders; Psychedelics; Psychotherapy; Rapid acting antidepressants; Substance-use}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{105--112}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Affective Disorders}},
  title        = {{Active mechanisms of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy : A systematic review}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.030}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.030}},
  volume       = {{315}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}