Health Sciences Researchers Lead Multiple Pediatric ACL, Newborn Pain Clinical Trials

Ketamine is emerging as a promising treatment for severe and treatment-resistant depression, including suicidal ideation, with ongoing clinical studies comparing its effectiveness to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Researchers like Dr. Brian Barnett at the Cleveland Clinic are investigating ketamine's potential as a rapid-acting intervention, though results from these trials are still pending. Despite its approval as an anesthetic, ketamine therapy is gaining popularity for mental health uses, even among adolescents with treatment-resistant conditions, as highlighted by cases like a 16-year-old patient receiving ketamine after other treatments failed. Experts caution that ketamine should be a last resort for youth due to limited research on its long-term effects on the developing brain, but some argue the risks of untreated severe depression outweigh potential side effects. Clinics across the U.S., including Kansas City Psychiatry Partners, are offering IV ketamine treatments, reporting success stories in alleviating severe depression. Overall, ketamine represents an innovative but still investigational approach in mental health, balancing hope for rapid relief with the need for further study and careful patient selection.