Ketamine and the core symptoms of autism

Kastner, Theodore A.; Walsh, Kenneth; Shulman, Lisa H.; Alam, Farah; Flood, Samuel

doi:10.1515/ijdhd-2015-0003

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Given the close connection between ASD and bipolar disorder, it is also plausible that the ketamine infusions may have alleviated some of his ASD symptoms, as eye contact, speech, social interaction, and insight into his emotional state showed improvement following the ketamine infusions. These results also align with another report that some ASD symptoms improved briefly with a single dose of ketamine ( 20 ). Taken together, prospectively designed, systematized research with larger sample sizes appears warranted.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Other research, however, has shown that a single participant study conducted with an adult with ASD found promising results with the patient’s mood ( 19 ). Another case report ( 20 ) detailed a 15-year-old male with autism, bipolar, and obsessive-compulsive disorder who received ketamine as part of a dental procedure at the Special Needs Dentistry Center at the Rose F. Kennedy Center. Immediately upon recovery from the procedure, the child was speaking in full sentences and making eye contact.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Case report: Adult with bipolar disorder and autism treated with ketamine assisted psychotherapy

Harris,

Jones,

Walker

et al. 2024

Front. Psychiatry

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BackgroundEvidence has increased in recent years regarding the potential for ketamine to serve as a novel treatment option for a range of conditions, particularly depression (unipolar and bipolar). However, research regarding ketamine as a potential therapeutic for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is lacking, despite high overlap with bipolar depression and theoretical foundations for its use.Case presentationA 29-year-old man with bipolar disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder, type 2 diabetes, presented with mood swings and suicidal thoughts, and anger outbursts occurring daily. The patient was referred by a psychiatrist due to irritability and outbursts during the previous 5 months. These outbursts were unable to be controlled by the medications prescribed, included yelling and screaming, and the patient was unable to speak with the psychiatrist. The patient underwent ketamine assisted psychotherapy with 6 initial IV infusions of ketamine over a 1 month period followed by 2 booster IV ketamine infusions. Following ketamine treatment, dramatic reductions in outbursts were observed as well as reductions in anxiety, suicidality, and depression scores.ConclusionThis case study adds to the scant literature regarding ketamine treatment for individuals with bipolar disorder and ASD. We did not find ASD to be a contraindication for IV ketamine and ketamine assisted psychotherapy. Reductions in anger outbursts, anxiety, suicidality, and depression suggest ketamine treatment might be tailored to individuals with bipolar disorder and ASD, and additional systematized research is warranted. Although potential mechanisms of action are not clear, these data add to the discussion regarding clinical practice considerations and the potential for ketamine to improve quality of life and associated metrics.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Case report: Adult with bipolar disorder and autism treated with ketamine assisted psychotherapy

Harris,

Jones,

Walker

et al. 2024

Front. Psychiatry

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“…It has also been claimed that ketamine could be used for autism spectrum disorders. A 2006 case report concluded that ketamine produced a substantial but short-lived remission of the core symptoms of autism in a patient with severe intellectual disability [70].…”

Section: Non-anesthetic Usesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical Uses of Ketamine in Children: A Narrative Review

Bali¹,

Dang²,

Gonzalez³

et al. 2022

Cureus

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Ketamine is a phencyclidine derivative that acts as a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate as well as a glutamate receptor antagonist. It also has other minor mechanisms that contribute to its extensive drug profile. Ketamine is a bronchodilator and maintains normal airway reflexes and, thus, permits spontaneous respiration. This, coupled with the fact that it produces potent analgesia, makes it highly suitable for children.Despite its many merits, the drug's side effects, along with its cultural image of being a drug of abuse, a drug used in veterinary medicine, or a "date-rape drug" have sullied its reputation within the armamentarium of medicine. Even though it is widely used in developing countries, its use in Western nations has diminished. We have strived to explore the various clinical uses of ketamine in children through this article. In addition, the article also highlights how some of the fears associated with using the drug are unfounded and provides ways by which the drug's side effects can be prevented and managed.

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“…Notably, ketamine was welltolerated. However, a single case study found a dramatic reduction in the core symptoms of ASD for 36 h following a preoperative ketamine treatment [84]. Moreover, another single case study found improvements in depressive symptoms and the duration of eye fixation (an index of social skills) across 12 doses of intranasal ketamine in an individual with ASD and other psychiatric disorders [85].…”

Section: Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ketamine as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Narrative Review

et al. 2021

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Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a highly complex disorder to treat, especially in severe and enduring cases. Whilst the precise aetiology of the disorder is uncertain, malnutrition and weight loss can contribute to reductions in grey and white matter of the brain, impairments in neuroplasticity and neurogenesis and difficulties with cognitive flexibility, memory and learning. Depression is highly comorbid in AN and may be a barrier to recovery. However, traditional antidepressants are often ineffective in alleviating depressive symptoms in underweight patients with AN. There is an urgent need for new treatment approaches for AN. This review gives a conceptual overview for the treatment of AN with ketamine. Ketamine has rapid antidepressant effects, which are hypothesised to occur via increases in glutamate, with sequelae including increased neuroplasticity, neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. This article provides an overview of the use of ketamine for common psychiatric comorbidities of AN and discusses particular safety concerns and side effects. Potential avenues for future research and specific methodological considerations are explored. Overall, there appears to be ample theoretical background, via several potential mechanisms, that warrant the exploration of ketamine as a treatment for adults with AN.

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Ketamine and the core symptoms of autism

Cited by 9 publications

References 4 publications

Case report: Adult with bipolar disorder and autism treated with ketamine assisted psychotherapy

Case report: Adult with bipolar disorder and autism treated with ketamine assisted psychotherapy

Clinical Uses of Ketamine in Children: A Narrative Review

Ketamine as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Narrative Review

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