A naturalistic study examined anhedonia during repeated ketamine infusions. Its benzodiazepine subgroup result was observational and did not establish a drug-interaction mechanism.
The reported association
Forty-two people with treatment-resistant depression received eight ketamine infusions as add-on treatment. Anhedonia scores decreased overall.
After adjustment for selected confounders, significant reductions across infusions and one week afterward were observed only among participants not using benzodiazepines. The authors also examined the relationship between anhedonia improvement and overall depressive symptoms.
Subgroup significance needs caution
The study lacked placebo control, randomization, and blinding. Blood concentrations of ketamine, its metabolites, and benzodiazepines were not measured. Clinical reasons for benzodiazepine use could differ between groups.
A significant change in one subgroup and not another does not alone quantify a causal interaction. The paper cannot establish that stopping a benzodiazepine would restore ketamine benefit in an individual. Preserve the specific anhedonia endpoint, naturalistic setting, co-treatment, and short follow-up when describing the finding.
Source paper
Original analysis of the supplied journal article, identified as PMC8558390.
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