A groundbreaking study, published in the journal Psychiatry Research, has revealed that repeated doses of ketamine can have rapid antidepressant effects in hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), offering a faster alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The study involved a blind, randomized trial with 18 MDD patients, who were divided into two groups receiving either ketamine or ECT. Assessments using the Beck Depression Inventory and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale showed significant improvement in depressive symptoms within 24 hours of the first ketamine dose, an effect that persisted throughout the study. This research highlights ketamine's potential as a rapid and effective treatment for MDD, challenging traditional approaches like ECT.