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People considering suicide could be saved by the illegal sedative ketamine

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By Tom Campbell via SWNS

People considering suicide could be saved by the illegal sedative ketamine, according to a new study.

The Class B banned drug could stop people from turning their dark thoughts into actions by relieving their psychological pain, say scientists.

Every year, around 700,000 people die from suicide and 20 times more people attempt it, often with life-changing consequences.

But resolving the thought process which goes through a person's mind before they kill themselves, known as suicidal ideation, could prevent it.

Now scientists have found ketamine, a powerful and quick-acting sedative, could help people battle suicidal thoughts.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Particularly those who suffer from bipolar disorder could benefit from taking the drug which is legally used as an anesthetic, but often illegally consumed to get high.

The findings were published in the BMJ.

Author doctoral student Riccardo De Giorgi at the University of Oxford said: "These findings indicate that ketamine is rapid, safe, and effective in the short term for acute care in hospitalized suicidal patients.

"However ketamine is a drug with a potential for abuse and longer follow-up of larger samples will be necessary to examine benefits on suicidal behaviors and long term harm."

(Wikimedia Commons)

A thorough clinical assessment was carried out of 156 patients who were voluntarily admitted to hospital in France with severe suicidal thoughts between April 2015 and March 2019.

Before starting the trial, participants were divided into three groups - bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, or other psychiatric disorders.

Patients were then randomly selected to receive two 40 minute intravenous infusions of either ketamine or a placebo drug over 24 hours, on top of their usual treatment.

How many of the patients feeling suicidal were in remission three days later was examined by the researchers.

This was confirmed by a score of three or less on a clinical assessment covering 19 items, each rated between zero and two.

They found 63 percent of patients who were given ketamine went into remission by day three compared with 32 percent in the placebo group.

All of their side effects were also rated as minor and had diminished by day four, the researchers found.

One person died from suicide in the ketamine group, but this was unrelated an oversight committee concluded.

The benefits of ketamine were most felt by patients with bipolar disorder, compared to those with major depression or other mental illnesses who did not see a difference.

It also appeared to relieve psychological pain, which could explain why it helps people combat suicidal thoughts.

The drug was however no longer effective after four and six weeks, the researchers found.

Mr. De Giorgi said: "This new trial challenges current thinking about ketamine."

But concerns over ketamine's addictive nature and triggering another opioid style crisis mean it's unlikely to become a treatment any time soon.

Mr. De Giorgi added: "Whether the emergency use of ketamine for suicidal crises will be recommended in practice depends on many other factors, including the values and preferences of patients, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers."

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