Ketamine as a Novel Psychopharmacotherapy for Eating Disorders: Evidence and Future Directions
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Abstract
Eating disorders (EDs) are serious, life-threatening psychiatric conditions associated with physical and psychosocial impairment, as well as high morbidity and mortality. Given the chronic refractory nature of EDs and the paucity of evidence-based treatments, there is a pressing need to identify novel approaches for this population. The noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) antagonist, ketamine, has recently been approved for treatment-resistant depression, exerting rapid and robust antidepressant effects. It is now being investigated for several new indications, including obsessive–compulsive, post-traumatic, and substance use disorder, and shows transdiagnostic potential for EDs, particularly among clinical nonresponders. Hence, the aim of this review is to examine contemporary findings on the treatment of EDs with ketamine, whether used as a primary, adjunctive, or combination psychopharmacotherapy. Avenues for future research are also discussed. Overall, results are encouraging and point to therapeutic value; however, are limited to case series and reports on anorexia nervosa. Further empirical research is thus needed to explore ketamine efficacy across ED subgroups, establish safety profiles and optimize dosing, and develop theory-driven, targeted treatment strategies at the individual patient level.
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“, 5-HT4 receptor antagonists (211), combining other previously unused evidence-based psychotherapies and psychopharmacologic approaches (142, 212), adjunctive application of neuromodulation tools, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) (213, 214), deep TMS (215) or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)…”
Background
- Authors
- Ragnhildstveit, A., Slayton, M., Jackson, L. K., Brendle, M., Ahuja, S., Holle, W., Moore, C., Sollars, K., Seli, P., & Robison, R.
- Affiliations
- Duke University (US)
- Integrated Research Literacy Group, Draper, UT 84020, USA
- University of Utah (US)
- Novamind, Draper, UT 84020, USA
- Corresponding author
- Ragnhildstveit, Anya
- ORCID
- Venue
- Brain Sciences
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2022-03-12
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 382
- ISSN
- 2076-3425 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8963252
- OpenAlex
- W4220935625
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 3
- FWCI
- 1.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Brain Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Preprints.org (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies
- Keywords
- ketamine, eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, NMDA receptor antagonists, treatment-resistant depression, adjunctive therapy, combination therapy, transdiagnostic treatment, psychopharmacological treatment, rapid antidepressant effects
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