Research library / Clinical trial
Adjunctive Ketamine With Relapse Prevention-Based Psychological Therapy in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
Grabski M, McAndrew A, Lawn W, et al. American Journal of Psychiatry 2022;179(2):152-162
Clinical trialKetaminealcohol use disorder
This trial tested ketamine for severe alcohol use disorder in 96 people, combining three weekly infusions of ketamine or saline with either a mindfulness-based relapse prevention therapy or alcohol education. Six months later, people who had received ketamine reported more days without alcohol than those on placebo, especially when ketamine was combined with therapy. The relapse rate did not differ, and treatment was well tolerated. The authors describe it as a proof of concept.
What it found
- At 6 months, the ketamine group had more days abstinent than the placebo group (mean difference 10.1%, 95% CI 1.1 to 19.0)
- The largest difference was ketamine plus therapy against saline plus education (15.9%)
- No significant difference in relapse rate between ketamine and placebo
- Well tolerated, with no serious adverse events associated with the study drug