Use of intranasal esketamine in a girl with treatment-resistant depression and autism spectrum disorders: a case report.
Miriam Olivola, Vincenzo Arienti, Nicola Bassetti, Serena Civardi, Natascia Brondino
EXCLI journal 2022 DOI: 10.17179/excli2022-4694 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Pilot study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A girl with autism spectrum disorder and comorbid treatment-resistant depression |
| Intervention | Intranasal esketamine |
| Topics | Depression Esketamine |
| Keywords | Autism spectrum disorders Treatment-resistant |
| Key findings | The report describes the first girl with autism spectrum disorder and comorbid treatment-resistant depression to be treated with intranasal esketamine. The authors note that autistic individuals are at greater risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors and are more frequently treatment-resistant, and that a prior pilot study of intranasal ketamine showed no effect on social withdrawal in autistic people without depression. |
Abstract
Major depression is a common comorbidity in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), often difficult to identify and to treat. Autistic subjects are more at risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors compared to typically developing peers. Unfortunately, ASD individuals are more frequently treatment-resistant and often show side-effects which reduce efficacy. Intranasal esketamine has been recently approved as an add-on medication for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but it has never been used in ASD with comorbid major depression. Of note, a pilot study of intranasal ketamine has shown no effect on social withdrawal in ASD without depression. The present case report describes the first girl with ASD and comorbid TRD treated with intranasal esketamine.