This systematic review aims to identify published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the use of anticonvulsants for the prevention and/or treatment of delirium among older adults.

A comprehensive search of databases: MEDLINE ALL (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Web of Science Core Collection and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled was conducted.

The search identified four RCTs that evaluated the use of anticonvulsants among older adults with delirium. One RCT evaluated the perioperative use of gabapentin among individuals undergoing spinal surgery and the development of postoperative delirium. One RCT evaluated the relationship between the use of perioperative gabapentin and the development of postoperative delirium among individuals undergoing spinal surgery and hip and knee arthroplasty. Two post-hoc analyses of RCTs evaluated the use of gabapentin and pregabalin among individuals undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). The perioperative use of gabapentin reduced the incidence of postoperative delirium among older adults undergoing spinal surgery. The perioperative use of gabapentin did not reduce the rates, severity or duration of postoperative delirium among older adults who were undergoing spine and hip and knee arthroplasty. The perioperative use of gabapentin did not reduce the incidence or duration of postoperative delirium among older adults undergoing elective TKA. The perioperative use of pregabalin did not reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium among older adults undergoing elective THA. Gabapentin and pregabalin were well tolerated among the individuals enrolled in these trials. There were no RCTs identified that evaluated the use of other anticonvulsants for the prevention and/or treatment of delirium among older adults.

Based on current evidence, the routine use of anticonvulsants for the prevention and/or treatment of delirium among older adults cannot be recommended.

To review the currently available data on the use of ketamine in the treatment of depression among older adults from randomized controlled studies.

Randomized controlled trials.

Variable.

60 years and older with depression.

Ketamine.

Change in Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores.

Two studies met the inclusion criteria. The first study showed a significant reduction in depression symptoms with use of repeated subcutaneous ketamine administration among older adults with depression. The second study failed to achieve significance on its primary outcome measure but did show a decrease in MADRS scores with intranasal ketamine along with a higher response and remission rates in esketamine group compared with the placebo group. The adverse effects from ketamine generally lasted only a few hours and abated spontaneously. No cognitive adverse effects were noted in either trial from the use of ketamine.

The current evidence for use of ketamine among older adults with depression indicates some benefits with one positive and one negative trial. Although one of the trials did not achieve significance on the primary outcome measure, it still showed benefit of ketamine in reducing depressive symptoms. Ketamine was well tolerated in both studies with adverse effects being mild and transient.