An extended-release oral tablet form of ketamine (R-107) was effective, safe, and well tolerated for treatment-resistant depression. In a phase 2 trial, 231 adults with severe depression took 120 mg of R-107 daily for 5 days; 168 who responded were then randomly assigned to receive 30, 60, 120, or 180 mg of R-107 or placebo twice weekly for 12 weeks. The 180 mg dose produced a significantly greater reduction in depression scores than placebo, with a mean difference of 6.1 points on the MADRS scale. Relapse rates dropped from 70.6% with placebo to 42.9% with 180 mg. No blood pressure changes occurred, and sedation or dissociation were minimal. Most dosing took place at home.
An extended-release oral tablet form of ketamine (R-107) was effective, safe, and well tolerated for treatment-resistant depression. In a phase 2 trial, 231 adults with severe depression took 120 mg of R-107 daily for 5 days; 168 who responded were then randomly assigned to receive 30, 60, 120, or 180 mg of R-107 or placebo twice weekly for 12 weeks. The 180 mg dose produced a significantly greater reduction in depression scores than placebo, with a mean difference of 6.1 points on the MADRS scale. Relapse rates dropped from 70.6% with placebo to 42.9% with 180 mg. No blood pressure changes occurred, and sedation or dissociation were minimal. Most dosing took place at home.
Public attitudes toward ketamine for depression shifted notably after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 2019 approval. Analyzing 18,899 unique tweets from individual users between 2010 and 2023 revealed three main themes: changing regulations, cautious optimism, and personal experiences. Cautious optimism decreased over time, while personal accounts increasingly highlighted benefits for some treatment-resistant patients. The overall perception is hopeful about ketamine's therapeutic potential.
A nine-month mindfulness awareness program (MAP), compared with a health education program, improved working memory span and divided attention in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Cortical thickness increased in the right frontal pole and decreased in the left anterior cingulate after nine months. An early increase in the left inferior temporal gyrus after three months did not persist. The results suggest that sustained mindfulness practice can produce cognitive and neuroplastic changes even in people with mild cognitive impairment.