Key message

Intravenous ketamine is a new treatment option for people with depression who do not experience improvement from other treatment, or who are at acute risk of committing suicide. In this single technology assessment, we form a basis for a future health technology assessment, by mapping research on the effects of intravenous ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and acute suicide risk/-ideation.

We have systematically searched international databases for the most up-to-date systematic reviews as well as recent and ongoing randomized studies. We deployed machine learning methods and independent assessments in the selection process.

In total, we included six systematic reviews, six recent randomized trials, and 16 ongoing randomized studies.

• All systematic reviews were published in 2021, with search dates from December 2019 to September 2021.
• The reviews included a total of 21 unique RCTs that were relevant to this mapping.
• Most recent and ongoing randomized studies took place in the United States and targeted adults.
• The ketamine dose was typically 0.5 mg/kg given once or several times over 40 minutes, and the comparison was either placebo, midazolam, other ketamine doses or electro convulsive treatment.
• No studies had resource use as an outcome.

A health technology assessment with a literature search in, for instance, January 2024, would contribute to an updated decision base for the use of intravenous ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and acute suicide risk/ideation.