Citation

Plöderl M, Hengartner MP, Volkmann C. Nervenheilkd. 2022; 41(4): 240-245.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Georg Thieme Verlag)

DOI

10.1055/a-1761-3192

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Ketamine and esketamine are considered to be rapidly and strongly effective in reducing depression and suicidality. In this article, we give an overview about the efficacy of ketamine and esketamine for the reduction of suicidal ideation and behavior. We base our assessment on randomized controlled trials published until December 2021. For ketamine, there seems to be a substantial reduction of suicide ideation, but only in the first 3 days. The actual size of the effect remains uncertain due to the imprecision in estimates. Furthermore, evidence for suicidal behavior is lacking. For esketamine, the few but qualitatively superior studies found weak effects at best, even when accounting for imprecision of the estimates. No firm conclusions can be drawn regarding suicidal behavior. The benefit-harm ratio of ketamine and esketamine in suicide prevention thus remains uncertain. © 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Language: de

Keywords

human; suicide; prevention; ketamine; suicidal ideation; suicidal behavior; Ketamine; drug efficacy; Article; randomized controlled trial (topic); esketamine