CureusSeptember 2025Muhammad Abbas, David B Adams, Jack Noto et al.
Management of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is complex and frustrating for patients, requiring several treatment courses before (or without) achieving remission. This investigation aims to highlight and analyze real-world instances of using esketamine for patients with TRD who have failed electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Four case reports from a single Hackensack-Meridian care center are...
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a major clinical challenge, affecting nearly one-third of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) who fail to respond to standard antidepressant therapies. Esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine, has emerged as a novel therapeutic option. Esketamine, initially introduced as an add-on therapy, has more recently also received recognition for...
INTRODUCTION Dysfunction in amygdala networks has been implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD). Pharmacological treatments, such as esketamine and sertraline, are believed to exert their antidepressant effects by modulating amygdalar activity. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between changes in dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) within amygdala subregions and treatment...
INTRODUCTION Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) remains a major challenge in the management of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine and a glutamatergic modulator, has been approved by the FDA and EMA for TRD in 2019. Beyond its rapid antidepressant effects, esketamine may enhance neuroplasticity, facilitating the reconnection with emotional and cognitive...
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a relevant issue in psychiatric practice, driving the exploration of innovative therapeutic alternatives. Ketamine and its enantiomer, esketamine, are emerging as treatments known for their effectiveness as rapid-acting antidepressants. Although previous comparative studies have highlighted some differences in their effects, they did not concurrently...
Intranasal (IN) esketamine represents a novel add-on treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) with reported favourable effects on insomnia. IN esketamine treatment might similarly reduce the incidence of insomnia as an adverse event (AE). The present meta-analysis therefore investigated whether IN esketamine relative to placebo is associated with a lower incidence of insomnia as an AE...
Esketamine has been shown to produce a major antidepressant response in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We evaluated the factors associated with achieving remission in these individuals. The study was carried out across four psychiatry departments in Madrid, Spain. Patients aged over 18 years were included if they received esketamine as an augmentation treatment for TRD....
This multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of esketamine (ESK) for smoking cessation. The study enrolled a sample of 236 patients diagnosed with lung cancer and major depression disorder (MDD). Treatment included intranasal delivery of ESK or placebo once a week for 8 sessions. The primary outcomes were self-reported and...
Chronic stress is a risk factor for depression and may contribute to treatment resistance. This historical cohort study examined the association between baseline perceived stress, measured with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and response to (es) ketamine in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Adult TRD patients who received intravenous racemic ketamine or intranasal esketamine were...
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety of esketamine in bipolar depression, focusing on suicide-related outcomes and manic switch across timeframe and demographic subgroups. METHODS This retrospective cohort study was conducted in May 2025 using data from the TriNetX global collaborative network. Adults with bipolar depression treated with esketamine plus a mood stabilizer were propensity...