Ketamine and esketamine have demonstrated rapid, short-term antidepressant effects in major depressive disorder (MDD), but their relative safety remains unclear. This review aims to update the evidence on the safety of two agents for MDD and indirectly compare their safety and tolerability. We systematically searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and Cochrane databases up to 1 May 2025. Eligible...
Ketamine's antidepressant effects have been linked to its modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. However, the precise roles of both glutamate (Glu) levels and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in this process remain incompletely understood. This study examined the relationship between ketamine-induced changes in Glu levels and peripheral BDNF levels using...
Depression affects approximately 5.7% of adults worldwide, and around one-third of these individuals develop treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Intravenous (IV) ketamine and esketamine (administered IV or intranasally (IN)) are novel treatment options for TRD; however, only IN esketamine currently holds FDA approval. Compare the acute effectiveness of IV ketamine with esketamine (IV or IN)...
Catatonia is a rare but potentially life-threatening psycho-motor syndrome. It is mainly manifested as decreased activities, or excessive and specific activities, such as stupor, agitation and defiance. Catatonia can appear in various diseases and the diagnosis and treatment of depressive catatonia are often delayed. As an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, esketamine shows...
Although Dexmedetomidine (DEX) can induce sleep that resembles natural sleep, it has demonstrated limited efficacy in patients with comorbid insomnia and depression. On the other hand, Esketamine (ESK) has shown a potent antidepressant effect. Herein, we aimed to establish whether esketamine could enhance the therapeutic efficacy of DEX in treating patients with comorbid insomnia and...
Intranasal (IN) esketamine has become an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option for the management of treatment-resistant depression within major depressive disorder (MDD-TRD). Despite these promising benefits, given the prevalence of ketamine abuse, concerns remain over the addiction liability that may be associated with esketamine treatment. The objective of this study is to assess...
Major depressive disorder (MDD) has a high incidence and high risk of suicide. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective and rapid physical therapy for MDD but limited by adverse effects. Ketamine/esketamine are new emerging rapid antidepressants, which can synergize the efficacy and safety of ECT but come with other side effects. Binaural beat music (BBM) is a non-invasive...
Enhancing the early diagnosis and standardized treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), as advocated by the National Health Commission of China, is a key priority in the mental health initiatives of the nation. To achieve this, numerous evidence-based rapid treatment centers for MDD have been established or are currently under development across the country. These centers focus on the...
Patients suffering from depression frequently encounter extended periods of low moods and lack of enjoyment or enthusiasm for activities. It leads to suicidal thoughts and presents a potential hazard to their safety. Nowadays, there has been significant progress in researching the effectiveness and safety of esketamine in treating depression. Hence, this paper employs bibliometric analysis to...
Mood disorders, anxiety, and suicidality in youth are increasing and rapid-acting treatments are urgently needed. One potential is ketamine or its enantiomer esketamine, which was FDA approved in 2019 to treat major depressive disorder with suicidality in adults. This systematic review evaluated the evidence for the clinical use of ketamine to treat mood disorders, anxiety, and suicidality in...