Ketamine Infusions for Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project is to educate mental health professionals at Peak Wellness Center in southeast Wyoming about intravenous ketamine for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.Background: Intravenous ketamine has been used for several years for analgesia and anesthesia. The use of intravenous ketamine for psychiatric disorders is a new utilization of this anesthetic medication; a knowledge deficit exists among mental health professionals regarding its usage for depression treatment. Methods: A 15-minute, online educational presentation with pre- and post-test surveys was developed detailing strategies for identifying patients that would benefit from intravenous ketamine treatment, safety considerations, contraindications to treatment, cost, insurance considerations, where local ketamine clinics are located, and how to refer clinically qualified patients for treatment. Results: Ten PWC mental health professionals viewed the educational presentation and responded to corresponding surveys. A comparison of the 10 participants responses demonstrated increased intravenous ketamine knowledge, improved comfort level for discussing ketamine treatment with patients, and greater intent to refer qualified patients to certified intravenous ketamine providers Conclusion: The project shows that education can positively impact mental health professionals’ knowledge about new treatment modalities for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Keywords: depression, major depressive disorder, intravenous infusion, ketamine, treatment-resistant