Intravenous Ketamine reduces psychological pain in suicidal inpatients: A secondary analysis of a six-week randomized placebo-controlled trial.
J Affect DisordAug 10, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchPsychiatry
Ilya Baryshnikov, Christophe Demattei, Mocrane Abbar et al.
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In 30 seconds
This secondary analysis of a six-week randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effect of intravenous ketamine on psychological pain in suicidal psychiatric inpatients. The study found that ketamine significantly reduced psychological pain compared to placebo during the first 96 hours post-infusion, with the most substantial effects observed at 40 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours, and 24 hours (all p < 0.001).
Key findings
- Psychological pain decreased more with ketamine than placebo during the first 96 hours.
- The largest reduction in psychological pain occurred at 40 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours, and 24 hours post-infusion (all p < 0.001).
- The early reduction in psychological pain was more pronounced in the bipolar subgroup.
- No robust baseline predictors of outcome were identified.
Why it matters
Understanding the impact of ketamine on psychological pain could inform treatment strategies for suicidal patients, potentially offering a new avenue for alleviating suffering in this vulnerable population.