Transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine: implications for combined treatment in depression
Weronika Dębowska, Magdalena Więdłocha, Marta Dębowska, Zuzanna Kownacka, Piotr Marcinowicz, Agata Szulc
Frontiers in Neuroscience October 26, 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1267647 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) ketamine |
| Topics | Depression Esketamine Ketamine |
| Key findings | Argues that although transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine each effectively reduce depressive symptom severity in treatment-resistant depression, some patients still do not achieve the desired improvement, and that combining the two methods may yield stronger and longer-lasting results. The review aims to consolidate evidence on this combined treatment and elucidate its potential mechanisms to guide future protocol development. |
Abstract
Drug-resistant mental disorders, particularly treatment-resistant depression, pose a significant medical and social problem. To address this challenge, modern psychiatry is constantly exploring the use of novel treatment methods, including biological treatments, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and novel rapid-acting antidepressants, such as ketamine. While both TMS and ketamine demonstrate high effectiveness in reducing the severity of depressive symptoms, some patients still do not achieve the desired improvement. Recent literature suggests that combining these two methods may yield even stronger and longer-lasting results. This review aims to consolidate knowledge in this area and elucidate the potential mechanisms of action underlying the increased efficacy of combined treatment, which would provide a foundation for the development and optimization of future treatment protocols.
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 |