Study: Ketamine Has No Clear Benefit for Chronic Pain
The Spin
Narrative A
The widespread off-label use of ketamine for chronic pain lacks scientific backing and poses real risks to patients. This comprehensive review shows that ketamine doesn't deliver meaningful pain relief while causing distressing side effects like delusions and paranoia. Despite ketamine being proposed to reduce depressive symptoms or opioid use in chronic pain patients, none of the studies reviewed reported on these outcomes, suggesting that ketamine should be avoided.
Narrative B
The evidence isn't strong enough to definitively rule out ketamine's potential benefits for chronic pain sufferers. While current evidence for ketamine in chronic pain is uncertain, it shows potential. Some patients report relief, and ketamine's unique action on NMDA receptors offers a novel approach. With better-designed studies, ketamine might become a valuable alternative to opioids. This review should spark more research — not halt exploration of its therapeutic possibilities.
Metaculus Prediction
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