Intravenous Ketamine Clinic for Depression

The Intravenous Ketamine Clinic for Depression at Massachusetts General Hospital combines advanced psychopharmacology expertise with knowledge stemming from a decade of ketamine research. We offer treatment for patients with severe and refractory depression using the medication ketamine given through intravenous infusion or through the nose (intranasal). We work collaboratively with the outpatient treatment team to develop an appropriate plan for each patient.

Our Focus

As a part of the Depression Clinical and Research Program at Mass General, we are committed to advancing our knowledge and ability to treat depression by integrating clinical care and innovative research. We do this through a number of avenues:

• Our consultation services
• The ketamine intravenous (IV) infusion service and intranasal ketamine clinic
• Research studies focused on ketamine treatment

After a thorough consultation process, we offer IV infusions and intranasal ketamine maintenance to patients with severe depression or chronic suicidal ideation.

Our Research

Grants

• “Randomized, double-blind ketamine augmentation in chronically suicidal, treatment-resistant major depression,” American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• “New, rapidly-acting treatments for treatment-resistant depression (RAPID),” National Institute of Mental Health, PI Maurizio Fava, MD
• “Baseline insular dysfunction as a predictor of ketamine’s antidepressant effects in anxious depression,” NARSAD, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

Publications

• Ionescu DF, Swee MB, Pavone KJ, Taylor N, Johnson-Akeju O, Baer L, Nyer M, Cassano P, Mischoulon D, Alpert JE, Brown EN, Nock MK, Fava M, Cusin C. “Rapid and sustained reductions in current suicidal ideation following repeated doses of intravenous ketamine.” Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. June 2016.
• Ionescu DF, Felicione JM, Gosai A, Cusin C, Shin S, Shapero BJ, Deckersbach T. “Ketamine-associated brain changes: A review of the neuroimaging literature." Harvard Review of Psychiatry. February 2018.
• Freeman MP, Papakostas GI, Hoeppner B, Mazzone E, Judge H, Cusin C, Mathew S, Sanacora G, Iosifescu D, Trivedi M, Fava M. “Sex differences in response to ketamine as a rapidly acting intervention for treatment resistant depression.” Journal of Psychiatric Research. March 2019.

Presentations

• Ketamine Non-Responders Exhibit Pathological Increases in Extracellular Free Water Following Treatment–New Evidence of Astrocyte Pathology in Depression. Peyda S, Sydnor VJ, Kubicki M, Karayumak SC, Cheung J, Felicione JM, Shenton ME, Akeju-Johnson O, Pasternak O, Deckersbach T, Cusin C. Annual Meeting of American Society Clinical Pathology, Miami, May 29-June 1, 2018
• Gender Differences in the Response to and Tolerability of Ketamine as a Treatment for Acute Depression. Freeman MP, Papakostas G, Hoeppner B, Mazzone E, Judge H, Cusin C, Mathew S, Sanacora G, Iosifescu D, Trivedi M, Fava M. Annual Meeting of American Society Clinical Pathology, Miami, May 29-June 1, 2018