New treatments for treatment-resistant depression: esketamine controversies - a narrative review.
Danish medical journal August 4, 2026 DOI: 10.61409/a02260078 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Depression Esketamine |
| Key findings | Argues that timely access to new treatments for treatment-resistant depression in Denmark is hindered by regulatory complexity, economic constraints, and scientific debate over novel psychotropics such as esketamine, and advocates for evidence-based, faster implementation pathways to reduce the individual and societal burden of severe depression. |
Abstract
This narrative review examines barriers to Danish patients' timely access to new treatments for treatment-resistant depression, focusing on controversies around esketamine. Delays arise from regulatory complexity, economic constraints and scientific debate over novel psychotropics. The review advocates evidence-based, faster implementation pathways for new treatments to alleviate the overall individual and societal burden from severe depression in Denmark.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on esketamine 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 | |
| Long-term safety of ketamine and esketamine in treatment of depression | 2022 | Review | |
| Ketamine, Esketamine, and Arketamine: Their Mechanisms of Action and Applications in the Treatment of Depression and Alleviation of Depressive Symptoms. | 2024 | Review | |
| Variations in BDNF and Their Role in the Neurotrophic Antidepressant Mechanisms of Ketamine and Esketamine: A Review. Patients with depression | 2024 | Narrative review | |
| The Possible Application of Ketamine in the Treatment of Depression in Alzheimer’s Disease | 2022 | Review |