Abstract

Background: Depression is a chronic mental disorder and has remained a leading cause of disease burden. The lifetime prevalence in Nigeria is estimated to range from 3.1% to 5.2%. However, higher prevalence rates have been documented in more recent studies.

Aim: This case report and literature review is to bring to light the need for newer medications/interventions in the treatment of depression in low-resource countries such as Nigeria.

Setting: This research was conducted at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Method: The managing team developed a protocol for the trial of ketamine infusion in the management of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and depression with suicidality. Written consent was obtained before the Ketamine infusion therapy.

Results: Patient was assessed using the Hamilton depression rating scale, which was significantly high before commencement of ketamine infusion at a value of 22/52, indicative of severe form, and progressively reduced to 13/52 after receiving the third dose of ketamine infusion therapy.

Conclusion: Although being an instance case of a single trial of Ketamine infusion therapy, the authors report that the off-label use of Ketamine for the treatment of TRD in low-resource settings is feasible.

Contribution: This case report would add to the evidence that off-label use of ketamine in the management of TRD is possible.

Key words: Keywords: subanaesthetic ketamine; Depression; Nigeria; essential medication