Effect of ketamine infusion in treatment resistant depression and in depressive patients with active suicidal ideations: a study from North India

Background: Treatment resistant depression can be a life-threatening condition as it leads to an increase of suicide attempts by two three folds. It has been estimated that nearly 1 million people die due every year, and more than two-third these cases occur when the person is undergoing major depressive episode. Ketamine NMDA receptor antagonist, anesthetic agent short acting recently used antidepressant anti-suicidal agent. seen single intravenous infusion ketamine at lower dose. i.e., subanesthetic dose 0.5 mg/kg over period 40 minutes produces effect which lasts for about week various studies have proved repeated infusions prolong duration response. Methods: was observational/descriptive study done in clinic/ECT suite institute mental health neurosciences Kashmir (an associate hospital government medical college Srinagar) runs once week. In this study, patients satisfying criteria TRD with active suicidal ideations, visiting clinic who had given valid informed consent enrolled observed efficacy using specific scales. The 18 months from January 2020 till July 2021. Results: response rate our treatment 70.27%. suicidality 63.16%. Our showed rapid onset action ketamine, hours after infusion. Conclusions: A significant fraction suffering disorder do not respond antidepressants poor psychosocial functioning increased risk making their life threatening. These therefore require special attention address underlying well improve outcome. context we studied role improving outcome preventing ideation.