Section - Quick Takes

01. A Novel, Brief, Fully Automated Intervention to Extend the Antidepressant Effect of a Single Ketamine Infusion: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Published on January 1, 2023 Certification expiration date: January 1, 2026

James Phelps, M.D.

Research Editor - Psychopharmacology Institute

Key Points

In this 3-arm randomized trial, adjunctive ultra-brief psychotherapy maintained the otherwise transient mood improvements associated with a single ketamine infusion. The associated benefit was just as strong 30 days later without any further treatments.
The therapy was a form of classical conditioning called “self-association training”, delivered in eight 20-minute sessions over 4 days.
These results have major implications for the small industry already offering serial ketamine treatments and regarding the mechanisms by which ketamine affects mood.

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Watch this. It’s amazing. In this randomized trial of intravenous ketamine for major depression, watch 3 scores. First, for the placebo infusion, the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score drops an average of 8 points when measured 24 hours later. A ketamine infusion drops the MADRS scores an average of 15 points. A third group also got ketamine, and their scores also dropped about 15 points. But watch what happens next. The third group gets another intervention over the next 4 days. I’ll tell you about that in a minute. And over the month following the infusions, that third group maintains much of their ketamine-associated improvement whereas the ketamine-only group scores slowly drift back up to look just like the placebo infusion groups.

Hi! Jim Phelps here for the Psychopharmacology Institute. Got it? The placebo group improves but not much. The ketamine-only group improves much more but loses the additional

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02. Neurologic and Psychiatric Risk Trajectories After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: An Analysis of 2-Year Retrospective Cohort Studies Including 1,284,437 Patients

Learning Objectives:

After completing this activity, the learner will be able to:

Evaluate the means by which ketamine’s short-term benefits in major depression might be extended.
Examine the risk for developing psychiatric and neurologic disorders after COVID-19 infection relative to a comparison group with non-COVID respiratory infection.
Discuss the results of the largest randomized trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in light of a more recent review of all previous studies that presents a very different point of view.
Assess the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring of women who were taking an antidepressant during their pregnancy.
Compare the efficacy of intermittent vs continuous dosing of SSRIs in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoria.

Original Release Date: January 1, 2023

Review and Re-release Date: March 1, 2024

Expiration Date: January 1, 2026

Expert: James Phelps, M.D.

Medical Editor: Melissa Mariano, M.D.

Relevant Financial Disclosures:

None of the faculty, planners, and reviewers for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose during the last 24 months with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Contact Information: For questions regarding the content or access to this activity, contact us at support@psychopharmacologyinstitute.com

Instructions for Participation and Credit:

Participants must complete the activity online during the valid credit period that is noted above.

Follow these steps to earn CME credit:

View the required educational content provided on this course page.
Complete the Post Activity Evaluation for providing the necessary feedback for continuing accreditation purposes and for the development of future activities. NOTE: Completing the Post Activity Evaluation after the quiz is required to receive the earned credit.
Download your certificate.

Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Medical Academy LLC and the Psychopharmacology Institute. Medical Academy is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement

Medical Academy designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.