Effects of Esketamine on EEG temporal dynamics in patients with depression
Verina Guirguis
UNC Libraries June 21, 2026 DOI: 10.17615/b350-9s23 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 5 |
| Population | Participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder undergoing Esketamine treatment |
| Intervention | Esketamine |
| Duration | 90 minutes post administration |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Esketamine |
| Keywords | Depression economics Electroencephalography Neurology Alpha finance Depressed mood Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor Anesthesia Mood disorders Temporal lobe Neuropsychiatry |
| Key findings | 'Highness' significantly increased up to 75 minutes post-Esketamine administration, while a reduction in alpha power correlated with these mood changes. |
Abstract
Esketamine is an effective rapid-acting pharmacological intervention for treatment-resistant depression. However, the temporal dynamics of underlying brain networks associated with the improvement of depressive symptoms remain elusive. This observational study seeks to delineate alteration in network activity within 90 minutes of nasal Esketamine administration, with a focus on exploring its associations with subjective drug effect and mood fluctuations. We enrolled five participants diagnosed with MDD undergoing Esketamine treatment at the UNC Chapel Hill Interventional Neuropsychiatry Unit. High-density resting-state EEG was recorded before and subsequently repeated for a total of six times up to 90 min post Esketamine administration. Prior to each recording, participants completed Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) assessing mood changes. The primary outcomes are the change in oscillatory power in canonical frequency bands and their correlation with VAS measures. In line with expected plasma peak Esketamine concentration, we observed a peak of subjective “Highness” (+31.73%) and "Happiness” (+22.75%) 15 min post administration. Linear mixed models revealed elevated “Highness” up to 75 min (all p < .035), whereas “Happiness” exhibited significant improvement up to 35 min post administration (p = .025). This temporal pattern was paralleled by a reduction of alpha power (8-12 Hz), peaking 35 min post administration (-46.36%), which was maintained up to 50 min (all p < .05). Importantly, "Highness" was significantly associated with changes in alpha power (β = -2.760, SE = 1.20, p = .034). This study offers preliminary findings regarding the acute, temporal patterns in cortical activity and mood during Esketamine treatment.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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Subjective 'highness' increased up to 75 minutes after esketamine and 'happiness' improved up to 35 minutes, paralleled by a reduction in alpha power.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on esketamine for anxiety, most cited first.