Analysis: Study design contributed to differences in ketamine‐ECT trials

Abstract

Differences in study population characteristics and treatment modalities were largely responsible for the discordant findings between the two adequately powered trials that have compared ketamine treatment and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for major depressive disorder, an analysis has concluded. Remission rates with ECT treatment diverged significantly, at 63% in one of the studies and 22% in the other. Results of the analysis were published online Dec. 19, 2023 in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.