Ketamine Clinic for Depression

Opening in a new location with expanded hours in Summer 2024

Research from the past decade indicates that intravenous ketamine and intranasal esketamine (Spravato) can be effective treatments for patients suffering from depression. Both forms of treatment have been shown to work in patients with treatment-resistant depression who have failed four or more antidepressant trials.

The Ketamine Clinic at Mass General Hospital combines advanced psychopharmacology expertise with years of ketamine research to offer patients access to intravenous ketamine and esketamine intranasal treatment.

Patients must be 15 years or older and cannot self-refer: they must be referred by a longitudinal psychiatric provider. A thorough consultation process will determine a patient’s eligibility and suitability. Please note that patients with a currently active substance use disorder or a history of psychosis are not eligible for either treatment.

Referring Patients

Please place a referral so we can determine whether the program is a good fit for the individual and gather relevant clinical information. A completed referral form is required prior to treatment.

Internal referrals: please place a referral order through EPIC (Ambulatory Referral to MGH Ketamine Clinic REF210291)

Outside referrals: please complete the referral form and fax it to 617-643-9048 or email it to mghketamineclinic@mgh.harvard.edu. Patients must be 15 years or older and cannot self-refer: they must be referred by a longitudinal psychiatric provider.

Our Focus

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:

• Consultation Services
• Ketamine intravenous infusion (IV) service
• Intranasal esketamine (Spravato) service
• 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.

Treatment Options

IV Ketamine and Esketamine Cost

• Ketamine: $550 per infusion (ketamine is currently not covered by most insurances and should be considered an out-of-pocket expense)
• Esketamine: Treatment is covered by most insurances after prior authorization. The clinic will obtain prior authorization on the patient’s behalf if they meet clinical criteria for treatment.

Our Research

Grants

• “New Study to Evaluate Ketamine to Reduce Suicide Risk After Psychiatric Hospitalization,” MGH Psych News

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