Esketamine and Quality of Life Improvement in Treatment-Resistant Depression Patients: A Real-World Clinical Study.
Matteo Lupi, Alessandro Carano, Tiziano Acciavatti, Stefano Marini, Marco Palmucci, Elicio Marinucci, Enrico Paolini, Alessandro Gentile, Angelomarco Barioglio, Marco Giri, Domenico De Berardis, Giovanni Martinotti
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology November 21, 2025 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000002042 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational prospective multicenter study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 18 |
| Population | Adults with treatment-resistant depression |
| Interventions | Esketamine nasal spray oral antidepressant |
| Duration | 6 months, with assessments at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months |
| Measures | Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q-SF), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine Depression |
| Keywords | Humans Antidepressive agents Follow-up studies Prospective studies Quality of life Adult Middle aged Female Depressive disorder, treatment-resistant Real-world Treatment-resistent depression |
| Key findings | In 18 adults with treatment-resistant depression, esketamine nasal spray plus an oral antidepressant was associated with progressive improvement in depressive symptoms (MADRS 39.2 at baseline to 15.9 at six months) and significant gains in quality of life and functioning on the Q-LES-Q-SF, SDS, and PSP. The authors conclude esketamine may offer meaningful benefit for patients with substantial quality-of-life limitations. |
Abstract
Purpose: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a common phenomenon and a considerable clinical challenge; recently, esketamine in conjunction with an oral antidepressant (AD) has emerged as a potential treatment for TRD. Several studies have shown the efficacy of esketamine in improving depressive symptoms. This prospective study aims to explore the long-term effects of esketamine therapy on subjective quality of life (QoL) and general status of adults with TRD.
Methods: The study was an observational, prospective and multicenter study comprising a total of 18 TRD patients treated with Esketamine-Nasal Spray ESK-NS. Anamnestic data and psychometric assessments were collected at baseline (T0) and at follow-ups at 1 month (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3).
Results: Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q-SF), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) showed a statistically significant amelioration in QoL and functioning for all 3 scales, with progressive improvements at 1, 3, and 6 months. Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores decreased from a baseline score of 39.2 to 28.7 on T1, 20.9 on T2, and 15.9 on T3, respectively. Correlation analyses showed statistical significance between changes at 6 months between MADRS and QLES and between MADRS and SDS, but not between MADRS and PSP.
Conclusions: Significant improvement in QoL was observed among patients with TRD treated with ESK-NS; ESK-NS in combination with an oral AD appears to offer meaningful benefit as a treatment option for patients with TRD who generally have substantial QoL and functioning limitations as a result of their depressive illness.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on esketamine for depression, most cited first.