A breakthrough clinical trial shows a low-cost version of ketamine could be an effective treatment for severe depression. 

The study, conducted in Australia and New Zealand funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), involved collaboration between six academic clinical mood disorder units in Australia and one in New Zealand.

The research discovered that more than 20 per cent of participants experienced complete remission of their symptoms after receiving twice-weekly injections of the generic ketamine for a month. 

Additionally, one-third of the participants witnessed a significant improvement of at least 50 per cent in their depression symptoms. 

These findings offer hope for individuals struggling with hard-to-treat depression, especially those who have exhausted other treatment options.

While ketamine is commonly known as an anaesthetic and even a recreational drug, recent studies have indicated its potential to assist individuals with depression that is difficult to manage. 

The generic ketamine used in this trial demonstrated ten times more efficacy compared to a placebo, as reported in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

“When you look at some other studies of ketamine, they might report results of, for example, 50 per cent remission [with] ketamine and 30 per cent with the placebo medication. It's not the absolute number that counts... it's the comparison,” says Professor Colleen Loo, a psychiatrist at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

The research involved a double-blind placebo trial with approximately 180 participants. Over the course of a month, the participants received injections of either generic ketamine or a valium-type drug as a placebo. 

The trial's results were highly significant, with 20 per cent of ketamine recipients achieving complete remission compared to only 2 per cent of those in the placebo group.

Although the positive outcomes of ketamine treatment for depression are encouraging, experts emphasise the need for caution. 

Ketamine is a powerful drug with complex effects, and its usage should be supervised by trained mental health professionals. 

It is considered an option when other treatments have proven ineffective, especially for individuals with treatment-resistant depression.

The study also shed light on important factors related to ketamine treatment. Researchers discovered that tailoring the dosage based on individual responses to the drug was effective, contrary to previous studies that relied on standard dosing. 

The administration of generic ketamine through injections, similar to insulin injections used by diabetics, was also found to be effective. 

Furthermore, the trial's stringent criteria for “treatment-resistant” depression allowed for the assessment of ketamine's effectiveness in particularly challenging cases.

More details are accessible here.