• Anna C Donoghue, Mark G Roback, and Kathryn R Cullen.
• Department of Psychiatry, linds368@umn.edu.
• Pediatrics. 2015 Sep 1; 136 (3): e694-6.

AbstractKetamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptor antagonist, has long been used for anesthesia and has recently been investigated for its rapid antidepressant effects in adults with treatment-resistant depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We report a case of a child with PTSD and episodes of severe aggression and emotional dysregulation that were refractory to multiple medical and behavioral interventions. This child demonstrated sustained (8-13 days) remission from these symptoms when exposed to ketamine in the context of 2 procedures. We review the sparse literature on the uses of ketamine for behavioral purposes in children. This case suggests that ketamine should be further explored as a potential treatment option for children with severe refractory behavioral aggression.Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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