Long-term remission following esketamine nasal spray sessions in a patient with severe and highly treatment-resistant depression: a single-case report.
Lucas Arrighi, Eloïse Maakaron, Théo Korchia, Christophe Lançon, Raphaëlle Richieri
International Clinical Psychopharmacology July 11, 2023 DOI: 10.1097/yic.0000000000000482 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 31-year-old female inpatient with severe, chronic, multiresistant treatment-resistant major depressive disorder |
| Intervention | Intranasal esketamine |
| Dose | 84 mg |
| Duration | 20 bi-weekly sessions; maintenance phase and 1-year follow-up |
| Topics | Depression Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Humans Antidepressive agents Treatment outcome Remission induction Administration, intranasal Adult Female Nasal sprays Depressive disorder, treatment-resistant |
| Key findings | A 31-year-old woman with severe, chronic treatment-resistant depression who had failed 14 antidepressants and several neurostimulation techniques achieved remission after an acute course of intranasal esketamine (84 mg) over 20 bi-weekly sessions, with no significant adverse effects. She remained stable through the maintenance phase and one year later, suggesting intranasal esketamine may be an effective and safe option in multiresistant depression. |
Abstract
About 30% of patients with major depressive disorder have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Recently, intranasal esketamine was approved as a treatment option after the failure of two antidepressant trials. We report a patient with multiresistant depression that was successfully and safely treated with esketamine nasal spray. This 31-year-old inpatient with severe, chronic, and multi-TRD received an acute course of intranasal esketamine (84 mg). Previously, 14 different antidepressants, alone or in potentiation, and several neurostimulation techniques had been unsuccessful. Over 20 bi-weekly sessions, she had no significant adverse effects and was stabilized into remission. During the maintenance phase and 1 year after, she continues to be stable. This case report provides an example of a patient with severe TRD that showed significant improvement after treatment with intranasal esketamine.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on esketamine for depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Anhedonia: Current and future treatments Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports March 1, 2025
- The use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), ketamine, and esketamine in reducing suicidality in major depressive disorder: A comprehensive narrative review Psychiatry Research February 19, 2026
- Ketamine in severe, highly treatment-resistant depression—a retrospective case study and a perspective June 7, 2024
Cites 4
- Efficacy and Safety of Flexibly Dosed Esketamine Nasal Spray Combined With a Newly Initiated Oral Antidepressant in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized Double-Blind Active-Controlled Study American Journal of Psychiatry May 21, 2019
- Efficacy and Safety of Intranasal Esketamine Adjunctive to Oral Antidepressant Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression JAMA Psychiatry December 27, 2017
- The association between stage of treatment-resistant depression and clinical utility of ketamine/esketamine: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders December 1, 2022
- Esketamine nasal spray in patients with treatment-resistant depression: the real-world experience in the French cohort early-access programme. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice November 2022