Original Research J Clin Psychiatry January 2024

Clinical Outcomes of Intravenous Ketamine Treatment for Depression in the VA Health System

JCP 2024;85(1):10.4088/JCP.23m14984

Full Article Read the complete peer-reviewed article in J Clin Psychiatry. Clinical Summary Veterans with major depressive disorder often have chronic, highly treatment-resistant illness, substantial psychiatric comorbidity, and limited benefit from standard antidepressants. This study shows what intravenous ketamine looks like in routine VA care over months rather than weeks, including how often patients improve, how long treatment is continued, and how infusion schedules change in practice. FAQ How well did intravenous ketamine work for depression in Veterans in routine VA care?

Key Takeaways IV ketamine use in VA was highly concentrated: 19 facilities treated at least 1 patient, only 7 facilities treated 10 or more patients, and 50% of the patients were treated at the 2 highest volume facilities, which suggests access and program experience may vary substantially across sites. Clinical Guide How should clinicians identify which patients with depression are reasonable candidates for repeated intravenous ketamine treatment in routine care? Clinical Guide How should clinicians structure and monitor a repeated intravenous ketamine course for depression over the first 6 months of care?