Antidepressant action of ketamine anaesthesia during electroconvulsive therapy in a patient with depression

ABSTRACT

Background: Managing treatment resistant depression has been a confounding problem for psychiatrists in clinical practice. Glutamate receptor agents are being tried as the next line of antidepressants for the future. Case Description We describe herewith a case of treatment resistant depression that received ECT with ketamine anaesthesia and showed improvement in a course of 7 ECTs. Discussion: The improvement the patient showed was remarkable and demonstrates the efficacy of ketamine in the management of depression where most drugs have not benefited the patient Conclusion: The role of ketamine in ECT anaesthesia in the management of patients with depression needs to be explored further