Ketamine has shown potential for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). A 2013 randomized controlled trial investigated the efficacy of ketamine for treating OCD1 . The researchers noted that serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) typically used to treat OCD take at least two to three months before producing clinically meaningful improvements. During the trial they found that the participants who received an infusion of ketamine showed significant improvement in obsessions within minutes. Researchers also found that the rapid reduction in symptoms following one ketamine infusion lasted up to a week for people with OCD.
Compared to traditional OCD treatments, ketamine produces a significantly faster reduction in symptoms. A 2013 randomized controlled trial2 investigated the efficacy of ketamine for treating OCD. The researchers noted that SRIs typically used to treat OCD take at least two to three months before producing clinically meaningful improvements. During the trial, they found that the participants who received an infusion of ketamine showed significant improvement in obsessions within minutes. Researchers also found that the rapid reduction in symptoms following one ketamine infusion lasted up to a week for people with OCD.
