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Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Comprehensive Insight of Ketamine Infusion Therapy, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

Mohammad Ali, Urbah Viqar

Annals of Punjab Medical College December 31, 2024 DOI: 10.29054/apmc/2024.1658 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Systematic review Peer reviewed
Population Patients with treatment-resistant depression
Interventions Ketamine infusion therapy Transcranial magnetic stimulation Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy
Duration One year and six months from December 2022 to June 2024
Topics Depression Esketamine Ketamine Psychedelic-assisted therapy
Key findings Ketamine infusion therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy each demonstrated significant improvements in clinical outcomes for treatment-resistant depression.

Abstract

Background: The phenomenon of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a problem in the sphere of mental health treatment since the majority of patients do not experience positive effects while receiving traditional treatments. Newer therapies are ketamine infusion therapy for depression, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy give new hope.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of ketamine infusion therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as new treatment strategies in patients with TRD. Ketamine, which belongs to the class of NMDA receptor antagonists, has been seen to have rapid and efficient anti-depressant effects. Study

Design: Retrospective review. Settings: Islamabad, Pakistan. Duration: One year and six months from December 2022 to June 2024.

Methods: This study employed a systematic review methodology, searching major medical and psychological databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and Cochrane Library) using keywords and MeSH terms related to treatment-resistant depression, ketamine infusion therapy, TMS, and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Focus was on clinical trials, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and observational studies, while excluding animal studies, case reports, and non-peer-reviewed articles.

Results: The review yielded 80 studies, comprising 55 clinical trials, 10 meta-analyses, 10 systematic reviews, and 5 observational studies. The results showed that ketamine infusion therapy, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy demonstrated significant improvements in clinical outcomes for treatment-resistant depression.

Conclusion: The review shows that ketamine infusion therapy and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy are promising treatments for treatment-resistant depression, providing significant clinical improvements

Comparable studies

Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on ketamine and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
A comparison between psilocybin and esketamine in treatment-resistant depression using number needed to treat (NNT): A systematic review. Adults with treatment-resistant depression 2024 Systematic review
Meta-correlation of the effect of ketamine and psilocybin induced subjective effects on therapeutic outcome. Patients with depression or substance use disorder 2024 Systematic review and meta-analysis n = 654
Ketamine and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Psychiatric and Existential Distress in Patients with Serious Medical Illness: A Narrative Review. Patients with serious medical illness in a palliative care setting 2025 Systematic review
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies for Psychosocial Symptoms in Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Adults with cancer 2025 Systematic review and meta-analysis n = 455
How Do People Who Undergo Ketamine Treatment for a Psychiatric Problem Subjectively Experience This Intervention? A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies. People who received ketamine treatment for a psychiatric problem 2025 Systematic review and thematic meta-synthesis n = 24

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