Ketamine, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, and Depression Specific Yoga and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy in Management of Treatment Resistant Depression: Review and Some Data on Efficacy
Basant Pradhan, Tapan Parikh, Ramkrishna Makani, Madhusmita Sahoo
Depression Research and Treatment 2015 DOI: 10.1155/2015/842817 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Open-label Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | Treatment resistant depression (TRD) patients |
| Interventions | Depression-specific Yoga and mindfulness based cognitive therapy ketamine repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation |
| Topics | Depression Esketamine Ketamine Meditation |
| Citations | 24 |
| Key findings | A depression-specific model of Yoga and mindfulness based cognitive therapy (DepS Y-MBCT) successfully ameliorated TRD symptoms in 27 out of 32 patients in an open label pilot trial. |
Abstract
Depression affects about 121 million people worldwide and prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in US adults is 6.4%. Treatment resistant depression (TRD) accounts for approximately 12–20% of all depression patients and costs $29–$48 billion annually. Ketamine and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have useful roles in TRD, but their utility in long term is unknown. As per the latest literature, the interventions using Yoga and meditation including the mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) have been useful in treatment of depression and relapse prevention. We present a review of rTMS, ketamine, and MBCT and also report efficacy of a depression specific, innovative, and translational model of Yoga and mindfulness based cognitive therapy (DepS Y-MBCT), developed by the first author.DepS Y-MBCTas an adjunctive treatment successfully ameliorated TRD symptoms in 27/32 patients in an open label pilot trial in TRD patients. Considering the limitations of existing treatment options, including those of ketamine and rTMS when used as the sole modality of treatment, we suggest a “tiered approach for TRD” by combining ketamine and rTMS (alone or along with antidepressants) for rapid remission of acute depression symptoms and to useDepS Y-MBCTfor maintaining remission and preventing relapse.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ketamine for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Ketamine: a paradigm shift for depression research and treatment | 2019 | Review | |
| Rapid‐acting antidepressant ketamine, its metabolites and other candidates: A historical overview and future perspective | 2019 | Review | |
| Ketamine: A tale of two enantiomers | 2020 | Review | |
| Molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant actions of arketamine: beyond the NMDA receptor | 2021 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Kynurenine pathway metabolism and the neurobiology of treatment-resistant depression: Comparison of multiple ketamine infusions and electroconvulsive therapy. Journal of Psychiatric Research February 10, 2018
- An Integrative Approach to Ketamine Therapy May Enhance Multiple Dimensions of Efficacy: Improving Therapeutic Outcomes With Treatment Resistant Depression. Frontiers in Psychiatry November 24, 2021
- Effectiveness of mindfulness based interventions in reducing depressive symptoms across mental disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychiatry Research June 1, 2025
- Examining the impact of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder on ketamine's real-world effectiveness in treatment-resistant depression. European Neuropsychopharmacology February 1, 2025
- Sublingual Ketamine for Depression and Anxiety: A Retrospective Study of Real-World Clinical Outcomes medRxiv Preprint Server January 30, 2024
and 3 more in the library
Cites 16
- mTOR-Dependent Synapse Formation Underlies the Rapid Antidepressant Effects of NMDA Antagonists Science August 19, 2010
- Antidepressant Efficacy of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: A Two-Site Randomized Controlled Trial American Journal of Psychiatry August 28, 2013
- Metacognitive awareness and prevention of relapse in depression: Empirical evidence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2002
- Rapid Resolution of Suicidal Ideation After a Single Infusion of anN-Methyl-D-Aspartate Antagonist in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry July 13, 2010
- Optogenetic stimulation of infralimbic PFC reproduces ketamine’s rapid and sustained antidepressant actions Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences June 8, 2015
and 11 more in the library