[Interventional psychiatric procedures and novel substances for the treatment of affective disorders: An overview and outlook].
Tobias Bracht, Daniela Hubl, Kristina Adorjan, Gianluca A. Florineth, Leila M. Soravia, Bogdan Draganski, Sebastian Olbrich, Annette B Brühl, Niklaus Denier
Therapeutische Umschau April 1, 2025 DOI: 10.23785/TU.2025.02.005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation electroconvulsive therapy ketamine/esketamine transcranial direct current stimulation deep brain stimulation psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy |
| Topics | Depression |
| Keywords | Electroconvulsive therapy ect Ketamine/esketamine Depression therapy innovations Neuromodulation treatments Psychiatric interventions Brain stimulation therapies |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | For patients with difficult-to-treat depression, brain stimulation procedures and novel substances represent innovative and effective treatment options that complement pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. |
Abstract
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders. The effectiveness of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments is well documented. Remission rates are around 67 % for pharmacological antidepressant initial and secondary treatment of a depressive episode in unipolar disorders. However, patients with a depressive episode who do not respond to at least two successive attempts at pharmacological antidepressant treatment have significantly lower remission rates. Particularly in this subgroup with difficult-to-treat depression, brain stimulation procedures and treatment with novel substances represent innovative and effective treatment options that complement pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview and outlook on the following treatment procedures: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), ketamine/esketamine, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAT). An outlook on selected current developments with the aim of a procedure-specific, individualized indication will be given.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synaptic Dysfunction in Depression: Potential Therapeutic Targets | 2012 | Review | |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse | 2003 | Review | |
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines | 2005 | Review |