Ketamine abusers with SLC6A3 rs393795 genotype is associated with psychosis and schizophrenia—a pilot study

Psychotomimetic and schizophrenomimetic effects have been demonstrated in preclinical models for both acute and chronic ketamine administrations directly via the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, dopamine receptors and dopamine transporter, and indirectly through their genes expression. Little is known from clinical samples if repeated or chronic ketamine use, or genetic predisposition can incur risk from ketamine use to psychosis and schizophrenia. This study was carried out in the substance abuse clinics with subjects assigned to four groups according to their past history of ketamine use and psychosis. The primary outcomes were the association of ketamine use to psychosis and schizophrenia, and the genome associations to the ketamine-related psychosis and schizophrenia. Results showed that only SLC6A3 rs393795 encoding dopamine transporter was associated with psychosis in ketamine abusers. Ketamine use alone was insufficient to be associated with psychosis or schizophrenia unless in the SLC6A3 rs393795 CA heterozygous carriers.

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