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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Ketamine gets a new look for bipolar depression. A randomized controlled trial found that IV ketamine significantly reduced depression severity compared to midazolam in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder — and without triggering mania or psychosis. Researchers say larger, longer-term phase 3 trials are the next step.
Ketamine gets a new look for bipolar depression
A new double-blind randomized controlled trial published in JAMA Psychiatry found that adjunctive IV ketamine significantly outperformed midazolam in reducing depression severity among patients with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder. The study, led by Diana K. Orsini and colleagues from the University of Toronto, addresses a notable gap — bipolar disorder has historically been excluded from ketamine trials due to concerns about triggering mania or psychosis.
The trial enrolled 68 adults (ages 21–65) with bipolar I or II disorder experiencing moderate-to-severe depressive episodes who had failed at least two prior pharmacotherapies. Participants received four infusions of ketamine or midazolam over two weeks, alongside a stable mood stabilizer or antipsychotic.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: For patients with bipolar depression who haven't responded to standard treatments, options are limited. This trial suggests ketamine may be both effective and safer than previously feared — but larger phase 3 trials are needed before it becomes a clinical standard.
