The Use of Ketamine for Depression in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of Efficacy, Safety, and Clinical Applications.

J Pain Palliat Care PharmacotherMay 29, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchOncology (Medical)Psychiatry

Yogendra Singhal, Pavan Gaurav R, Sreeharsh Saji et al.

✦ AI-curated · Sources linked

In 30 seconds

This systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of ketamine for treating depression in adult cancer patients. Analyzing 14 studies, it found that ketamine can provide rapid relief from depressive symptoms, often within hours to days. The review highlights ketamine's potential as a short-term treatment option, especially for those with treatment-resistant depression.

Key findings

  • Ketamine can provide rapid relief from depressive symptoms, often within hours to days.
  • Short-term side effects included fatigue, dizziness, and dissociation.
  • Ketamine showed additional benefits in anxiety, pain, and quality of life.

Why it matters

Depression significantly affects cancer patients' quality of life and treatment adherence. Understanding alternative treatments like ketamine can help clinicians address this critical issue more effectively.

Source

PubMed · PMID 42213692

Published in J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother. This summary was written by xxcode from the publication's abstract and metadata. It is not peer reviewed and is not a substitute for the original article. For clinical decisions, review the original publication.

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