Research
Ketamine has been studied for its rapid effects in treatment-resistant depression, bipolar depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and related conditions.
The links below include scientific studies, articles, news coverage, and media pieces related to ketamine treatment. This page is intended as an educational resource and is not a substitute for individualized medical evaluation.
Newer Research, News, and Resources to Review
The following links include newer ketamine research, patient education resources, news coverage, video/media links, and related psychedelic medicine research. These are being collected for review and may be edited over time.
Newer Ketamine Research
Depression and Treatment-Resistant Depression
- Ketamine versus ECT for Nonpsychotic Treatment-Resistant Major Depression — New England Journal of Medicine, 2023 — A major study comparing ketamine with ECT for treatment-resistant depression without psychosis.
- Ketamine for the Treatment of Major Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis — EClinicalMedicine / PubMed, 2023 — A recent review summarizing ketamine and esketamine research for major depression.
- Personalized Use of Ketamine and Esketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression — Translational Psychiatry, 2024 — A review focused on individualized use of ketamine and esketamine for treatment-resistant depression.
- Serial Ketamine Infusions as Adjunctive Therapy to Inpatient Care for Depression: The KARMA-Dep 2 Randomized Clinical Trial — JAMA Psychiatry, 2025 — A more cautious study that highlights the need for careful interpretation of ketamine research.
- Clinical Outcomes in the Biomarkers of Ketamine Study — Journal of Affective Disorders / Johns Hopkins listing, 2024 — A multicenter open-label study of IV ketamine for serious depressive episodes.
- Intravenous Ketamine versus Esketamine for Depression — Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology / PubMed Central, 2025 — A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing IV ketamine with esketamine for adults with treatment-resistant depression.
Suicidal Thinking
- Ketamine for the Acute Treatment of Severe Suicidal Ideation — BMJ, 2022 — A large randomized trial examining ketamine\u2019s rapid effects on severe suicidal ideation.
- A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Ketamine on Suicidal Ideation in Depression Patients — Translational Psychiatry / PubMed, 2024 — A recent meta-analysis reviewing ketamine\u2019s effects on suicidal ideation.
- A Randomized, Double-Blind, Midazolam-Controlled Trial of Low-Dose Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression With Suicidal Ideation — International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2023 — A study examining ketamine in treatment-resistant depression with prominent suicidal ideation.
PTSD, Bipolar Depression, and Other Conditions
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Repeated Ketamine Administration for Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder — American Journal of Psychiatry / PubMed, 2021 — A randomized controlled trial of repeated ketamine infusions for chronic PTSD symptoms.
- Ketamine for Bipolar Depression: An Updated Systematic Review — 2023 — A review of ketamine research in bipolar depression.
- Repeated Ketamine Infusions Reduce Symptom Severity in Individuals With Chronic PTSD — Mount Sinai, 2021 — A patient-friendly summary of the repeated ketamine PTSD study.
- Effectiveness of Ketamine for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis — PubMed Central, 2024 — A recent review suggesting ketamine may be a promising PTSD treatment option, while emphasizing the need for more randomized trials.
- Ketamine Treatment for Refractory Anxiety: A Systematic Review — British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology / PubMed Central, 2022 — A review of ketamine research for refractory anxiety and anxiety-spectrum disorders.
- Ketamine for Mood Disorders, Anxiety, and Suicidality in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review — European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / PubMed, 2025 — A youth-focused systematic review included for research context, not as a statement that Nashville Ketamine Center routinely treats minors with ketamine.
Ketamine Patient Education and Professional Resources
- What to Know About Ketamine — Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2024 — A balanced patient-friendly overview of ketamine, esketamine, uses, and safety considerations.
- Ketamine for Depression: How It Works — Yale Medicine, 2024 — A clear academic medical explanation of how ketamine may help depression.
- Ketamine: How Yale Redefined Depression Treatment — Yale School of Medicine, 2026 — A recent article describing Yale\u2019s role in early ketamine depression research.
- Understanding Current Use of Ketamine for Emerging Areas of Therapeutic Interest — FDA, 2024 — A regulatory and safety-focused resource about current ketamine use.
- Clinical Approaches to Ketamine Treatment — American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists & Practitioners — A patient-facing resource about different clinical approaches to ketamine treatment.
- Ketamine Treatment Patient Resources — American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists & Practitioners — A patient education page with information about preparation, routes of administration, and treatment considerations.
- The Rapidly Shifting Ketamine Landscape in the US — JAMA Psychiatry / PMC, 2024 — A professional article discussing changes in ketamine practice, access, safety, and regulation.
- Guidelines for Ketamine Use in Clinical Psychiatry Practice — British Journal of Psychiatry / PubMed Central, 2024 — A professional article emphasizing the need for evidence-based guidelines, clinical standards, and monitoring around ketamine treatment.
Ketamine in the News
- Ketamine\u2019s Promise for Severe Depression Grows, But Major Questions Remain — Michigan Medicine, 2024 — A balanced article discussing ketamine\u2019s promise while acknowledging unanswered questions.
- First Study to Compare Ketamine Therapies for Patients With Severe Depression — Harvard Gazette, 2025 — A news summary comparing IV ketamine and intranasal esketamine in severe depression.
- FDA Approves Standalone Use of J&J\u2019s Ketamine-Derived Depression Treatment — Reuters, 2025 — News coverage of FDA approval of Spravato as monotherapy for treatment-resistant depression.
- Ketamine and Esketamine — Johns Hopkins Public Health On Call, 2025 — A podcast episode discussing ketamine and esketamine in a public health context.
Ketamine Media and Video
- Ketamine vs. ECT for Major Depression — New England Journal of Medicine Video, 2023 — A video companion related to the NEJM ketamine versus ECT study.
- Understanding Current Use of Ketamine for Emerging Areas of Therapeutic Interest — FDA Public Workshop Video, 2024 — A long-form regulatory and clinical discussion of current ketamine use.
- Is Ketamine Safe for Treating Teen Depression? — ABC News / Good Morning America, 2026 — A mainstream media segment discussing ketamine treatment questions in younger patients.
- Ketamine Treatment for Depression Gaining Popularity in U.S. — CBS News, 2023 — A short mainstream news video on ketamine treatment for depression.
Psychedelic Medicine Research
Psilocybin Research
- Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression — New England Journal of Medicine, 2022 — A major trial of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.
- Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder — JAMA, 2023 — A randomized clinical trial of psilocybin treatment for major depressive disorder with psychological support.
- Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder — JAMA / PubMed, 2023 — PubMed listing for the JAMA psilocybin study.
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder — JAMA Psychiatry / PubMed, 2021 — An earlier randomized clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for major depression.
- Psychedelics Research and Psilocybin Therapy — Johns Hopkins Medicine — A Johns Hopkins overview of psilocybin and psychedelic research.
MDMA-Assisted Therapy Research
- MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Moderate to Severe PTSD — Nature Medicine, 2023 — A phase 3 study of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.
- MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Moderate to Severe PTSD — Nature Medicine / PubMed, 2023 — PubMed listing for the 2023 phase 3 MDMA-assisted therapy study.
- MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Severe PTSD — Nature Medicine, 2021 — A phase 3 randomized trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD.
- MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD — VA National Center for PTSD — A careful patient-facing resource about MDMA-assisted therapy research for PTSD.
- Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for PTSD — VA National Center for PTSD — A professional-facing overview of psychedelic-assisted therapy research for PTSD.
Psychedelic Medicine Resources
- Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research — Johns Hopkins — A major academic center for psychedelic and consciousness research.
- Psychedelics Research and Psilocybin Therapy — Johns Hopkins Medicine — A medical-school overview of psychedelic research and psilocybin therapy.
- UCSF Translational Psychedelic Research Program — UCSF — An academic psychedelic research program studying psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, and related compounds.
- UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics — UC Berkeley — A public-facing academic resource on psychedelic science, education, and research.
- Stanford Psychedelic Science Group Research — Stanford Medicine — A research page for Stanford\u2019s psychedelic science work.
Psychedelic Medicine News and Media
- U.S. Veterans With PTSD Take a Psychedelic Journey in Mexico — 60 Minutes, 2025 — A mainstream video segment about veterans, PTSD, and psychedelic retreats.
- Veterans With PTSD Went to Mexico for a Psychedelic Retreat — 60 Minutes Transcript, 2025 — A written transcript of the 60 Minutes segment.
- FDA Panel Rejects Attempt to Use MDMA for PTSD Treatment — PBS NewsHour, 2024 — A balanced media piece about the regulatory concerns surrounding MDMA-assisted therapy.
- Trippy: How Psychedelics Can Be Used to Treat Mental Health Issues — PBS, 2024 — A broader public television discussion of psychedelics and mental health.
Note: This newer collection is being reviewed and may be edited over time. Some links may be retained, some may be removed, and some may later be moved into the main research, news, or media sections.
Scientific Research
- NMDAR inhibition-independent antidepressant actions of ketamine metabolites (PDF)
- A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Frequency Study of Intravenous Ketamine in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression.
- Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment of Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
- Randomized controlled crossover trial of ketamine in obsessive-compulsive disorder: proof-of-concept.
- Antidepressant Efficacy of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: A Two-Site Randomized Controlled Trial
- Rapid and Longer-Term Antidepressant Effects of Repeated Ketamine Infusions in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression
- Synaptic Dysfunction in Depression: Potential Therapeutic Targets
- Safety and Efficacy of Repeated-Dose Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression
- Glutamate NMDA receptor antagonists rapidly reverse behavioral and synaptic deficits caused by chronic stress exposure
- A Randomized Add-on Trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression
- Maintenance Ketamine Treatment Produces Long-term Recovery from Depression
- NMDA receptor blockade at rest triggers rapid behavioural antidepressant responses
- A Randomized Trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression
- Antidepressant efficacy of ketamine in treatment-resistant major depression: a two-site randomized controlled trial
- Ketamine as a novel antidepressant: from synapse to behavior
- Serial infusions of low-dose ketamine for major depression (abstract)
- Neurobiological advances identify novel antidepressant targets
- The role of AMPA receptor modulation in the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases
- Synaptic function in depression: potential therapeutic targets — Link needs review
- Rapid and longer-term anti-depressant effects of repeated ketamine infusions in treatment-resitant major depression
- Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment of Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- A neurotrophic hypothesis of depression: role of synaptogenesis in the actions of NMDA receptor antagonists
- NMDA receptor blockade at rest triggers rapid behavioural antidepressant responses
- Signaling Pathways Underlying the Rapid Antidepressant Actions of Ketamine
- Antidepressant effects of ketamine: mechanisms underlying fast-acting novel antidepressants
In the News
- Bloomberg (2015)bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-ketamine-depression-treatment
- NPR (2015)Club Drug Ketamine Gains Traction As A Treatment For Depression
- Nature (2015)Rave drug holds promise for treating depression fast
- VICE News (2015)I Used Ketamine to Treat My Depression
- NY Times (2014)Special K, a Hallucinogen, Raises Hopes and Concerns as a Treatment for Depression
- Scientific American (2013)Is Ketamine the Next Big Depression Drug?
- Time (2013)Club Drug Ketamine Lifts Depression in Hours
- Psychology Today (2016)A New Medication on the Horizon for Depression
- Neurology Advisor (2016)Ketamine May Be Effective in Major Depression
- Psychiatry Advisor (2016)May Provide Lasting Relief From Depression
- PRNewswire (2016)New Study Shows Ketamine May Regenerate Brain Cells, Relieving Depression with Lasting Benefit
- New York Magazine (2016)What It’s Like to Have Your Severe Depression Treated With a Hallucinogenic Drug
- Nature.comRave drug holds promise for treating depression fast
- Economist.comNovel drugs for depression
- NPR.comKetamine Relieves Depression By Restoring Brain Connections
- National Institutes of Mental HealthRapid Antidepressant Works by Boosting Brain’s Connections
- CurrentPsychiatry.comThe future of ketamine in psychiatry
- PsychiatricNews.comKetamine-Induced Optimism: New Hope for the Development of Rapid-Acting Antidepressants
- TheAtlantic.com‘The Biggest Breakthrough in Depression Research’ in 50 Years Is … Ketamine?
- J&J Press ReleaseEsketamine Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation from U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Major Depressive Disorder with Imminent Risk for Suicide
- CNN.comParty drug ketamine closer to approval for depression
- Nature.comHow club drug ketamine fights depression
- NPR.comDepression Treatments Inspired By Club Drug Move Ahead In Tests
Media
- VIDEO on PBSDr. Carlos Zarate Documentary about Depression
- VIDEO on ABC NewsParty Drug to Treat Depression?
- VIDEO on PBSDr. Carlos Zarate Documentary about Depression
- ChicagoTribune.comOnce-popular party drug now used for severe depression
- NBCNews.com‘Club Drug’ Ketamine Rescues Suicidal Patients
- NYPost.comA Party Drug Instantly Cured My Depression
- Van Winkle’sInsomnia, Suicide and the Redemptive Power of Ketamine
- Vice.comHow Ketamine Infusions Saved My Life
Please note that research in this field continues to evolve. Some articles are older and are included for historical and educational context. Nashville Ketamine Center periodically reviews this page as new research becomes available.