The role of ketamine in the treatment of major depressive disorder: Multidisciplinary approach in psychiatry

Depression is a prevalent psychiatric condition, affecting millions of people around the world. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), in turn, is a particularly serious form that can be resistant to conventional treatments. In this context, ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, has emerged as a promising therapy due to its rapid effects in cases of severe and treatment-resistant depression. Symptoms may improve within a few hours after administration and last for up to two weeks. This study seeks to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ketamine as a treatment for MDD, as well as the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in psychiatry to manage this condition. This is a literature review using studies that presented randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials that evaluated ketamine in the treatment of major depressive episodes. Studies that addressed the participation of multidisciplinary teams in the treatment of MDD were also examined. Most side effects observed were transient and well tolerated. Multidisciplinary teams, composed of psychologists, psychiatrists, anesthesiologists and nurses, proved to be essential for a more effective therapeutic approach, identifying a variety of patients' needs, which resulted in improvements in treatment results and quality of life. To improve understanding of ketamine's mechanisms of action and develop even more effective treatment strategies, more studies are needed, especially those that emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork in psychiatry.