KETAMINE INFUSION AS A TREATMENT FOR MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER: A NEW ROLE FOR ANESTHESIOLOGISTS?

A 2003 study indicates that the lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) is 16.2% and that in a 12 month period 13.1 to 14.2 million US adults will suffer from MDD1. MDD can be a devastating illness, affecting every aspect of a person’s life. An emerging therapy involving ketamine administration for the treatment of MDD has shown promise in treating those who have not been responsive to conventional pharmacological therapy, as well as those unresponsive to ECT therapy2-6. We report the first administration of this therapy by anesthesiologists. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient granting permission for publication of this article.