A new study from Columbia University has found that ketamine, a drug often used to treat serious depression, can quickly help reduce suicidal thoughts.
What’s more, it also helps people think more clearly and make better decisions. This could be a big step forward for people going through a mental health crisis.
The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
It looked at 78 people who had been diagnosed with major depression and were also having suicidal thoughts. The researchers gave each person a normal dose of ketamine through an IV (a drip into the vein) and then watched what happened over the next 24 hours.
What they saw was surprising. Just one dose of ketamine made people feel less suicidal, and it also improved their ability to think clearly and solve problems. Even for those whose depression didn’t get much better, their suicidal thoughts and confused thinking reduced.
The study was led by Dr. John Mann and his team. They explained that ketamine works in a different way from normal antidepressants. While regular antidepressants can take weeks to work, ketamine has fast results. This makes it especially helpful in emergencies, such as when someone is at high risk of self-harm.
The researchers also looked at another drug called midazolam, which is often used to calm anxiety. They found that ketamine was better than midazolam at helping people think more clearly. This is important because people who are suicidal often feel trapped and unable to think through their problems.
Suicide is still a serious issue in the United States. It is the third leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 34. It is also the 10th leading cause of death overall. Studies show that most people who die by suicide have a mental illness, and many are going through a severe depression at the time.
Because of these facts, scientists and doctors are urgently looking for treatments that work quickly. Ketamine seems to offer hope. Even though it is not yet officially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating suicidal thoughts, many clinics are already using it in this way.
The study adds to what we know about how ketamine affects the brain. It doesn’t just lift mood. It also helps people think in a more balanced and clear way. When someone is feeling hopeless, this clearer thinking may help them feel more in control and less likely to hurt themselves.
This research suggests that ketamine could become a powerful tool for doctors working with patients in crisis. If used the right way, it could help save lives—not just by reducing suicidal thoughts, but also by helping people see their problems in a new light. This clearer thinking can be the first step toward healing.
If you care about depression, please read studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies that ultra-processed foods may make you feel depressed, and extra-virgin olive oil could reduce depression symptoms.
