Journal of Affective Disorders
August 15, 2026
Michał Walaszek, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała, Zofia Kachlik et al.
Anhedonia, a core symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD), is associated with illness severity, suicide risk, poor functioning, and predicts poor response to antidepressants. While no treatments are approved, ketamine and esketamine show promise in reducing anhedonia. This study examines clinical and sociodemographic features linked to anhedonia treatment response in treatment-resistant...
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
2026
Zofia Kachlik, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała, Michał Walaszek et al.
Anhedonia is a key symptom of bipolar depression and a target of ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects. However, many patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression (TRBD) do not respond. This study aimed to identify clinical and sociodemographic characteristics that are associated with nonresponse of anhedonia following short-term ketamine treatment in TRBD. A retrospective analysis...
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
2026
Zofia Kachlik, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała, Michał Walaszek
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and bipolar depression (TRBD) are severe, heterogeneous mood disorders associated with substantial functional impairment, elevated suicide risk and persistent unmet treatment needs. While pharmacological and psychological interventions continue to advance, many patients experience delayed, partial or unsustained benefit, underscoring the need for therapies...
Journal of Clinical Medicine
December 25, 2025
Michał Walaszek, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała, Zofia Kachlik
1 citation
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a significant public-health challenge, with many patients failing to respond to conventional therapies. Ketamine has emerged as a rapid-acting intervention, but quantitative outcomes alone do not capture patients' lived experiences, which shape engagement, acceptability, and adherence. We conducted a narrative review of qualitative and mixed-methods...
Neuropsychopharmacology Reports
July 20, 2025
Zofia Kachlik, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała, Michał Walaszek et al.
3 citations
OBJECTIVES: Ketamine is a prototypical rapid-acting antidepressant for treatment-resistant bipolar depression (TRBD), yet many patients do not achieve a meaningful response. This study explored features of ketamine nonresponse in TRBD. METHODS: In a post hoc analysis of a naturalistic study, 35 TRBD patients received a four-week ketamine regimen (intravenous 0.5 mg/kg or oral 2.0/2.5 mg/kg)....
Pharmacological reports : PR
April 30, 2025
Michał Walaszek, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała, Zofia Kachlik et al.
3 citations
Ketamine is currently gaining attention as a rapid-acting antidepressant for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, many patients fail to respond, and limited data exist on predictors of non-response. This study aims to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical features associated with non-response to ketamine among TRD patients. This is a post-hoc analysis of a naturalistic...