Lithium Therapy Does Not Prevent Relapse After Ketamine Infusion

Ketamine infusions produce response and remission in patients with treatment-resistant depression at rates that seem comparable to those seen with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and that seem to be similarly associated with posttreatment relapse over time. Because lithium both inhibits glycogen synthase kinase-3 (which is also thought to be involved in ketamine's therapeutic mechanism) and is often given with antidepressants after termination of ECT to prevent relapse, researchers conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to determine whether lithium would decrease risk for relapse after ketamine infusion.

The 34 participants, who were not currently taking antidepressants, had recurrent or chronic nonpsychotic major depression and ≥2…