European Psychiatry
June 1, 2026
O. Vasiliu, D. G. Vasiliu
Introduction Hopes related to esketamine have been raised by its approval for treatment-resistant major depression (TRD) in the sense that this antidepressant, with a novel mechanism of action, will be useful for patients with bipolar depression (BD), too. The need to find more evidence-based pharmacological approaches to both TRD and BD is acute due to the high rates of partial response or...
European Psychiatry
June 1, 2026
Nawfel Ayad, Samer Makhoul, F. Alkhaja
Introduction Treatment-resistant depression remains a major clinical challenge, with many patients experiencing relapse despite advances in medication and psychotherapy. Esketamine offers rapid relief from depressive symptoms, while psychotherapy helps patients build lasting skills to manage their condition. Despite their individual effectiveness, little is known about how these treatments work...
European Psychiatry
June 1, 2026
E. D. Cindik-Herbrueggen, A. S. Kucukali
Introduction Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occurs with mood and anxiety disorders (Sandstrom et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2021;143 380–391), and when major depressive disorder (MDD) is present, it often follows a treatment-resistant course (Thapar et al. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023;64 4–15). Intranasal esketamine, a non-competitive NMDA-receptor...
European Psychiatry
June 1, 2026
Jesús García-Jiménez, S. Posik, B. Herrejón et al.
Introduction Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is highly burdensome. Intranasal esketamine is effective, yet hospital-centric delivery adds travel and continuity barriers that may hinder adherence and outcomes. We hypothesize that community outpatient, patient-proximal delivery —often with the patient’s usual psychiatrist—improves effectiveness, engagement and acceptability, consistent with...
European Psychiatry
June 1, 2026
M. P. Rapagnani, L. Veronesi, F. Sartini
Introduction In treatment-resistant depression, commonly defined as a lack of response to two or more consecutive treatments of antidepressants. Esketamine (the S-enantiomer of ketamine) nasal spray, administered in combination with either a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonine-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), is the only treatment approved in Europe...
European Psychiatry
June 1, 2026
I. C. Mândraș, A. L. Comșa
Introduction Suicidality represents a major clinical and public health challenge, particularly among patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), who carry a disproportionately high risk of suicide. Traditional antidepressants often have delayed onset and limited efficacy in reducing suicidal ideation in this high-risk population, highlighting the need for rapid-acting interventions....
The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update
June 1, 2026
A two‐year extension of a trial of esketamine nasal spray in patients with treatment‐resistant depression has found no new safety concerns associated with long‐term use of the drug. The overall relapse rate across both the original trial and the extension was 6.9%.
European Psychiatry
June 1, 2026
Introduction Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) represents a major challenge in psychiatry. Nearly one-third of patients with major depressive disorder fail to achieve remission despite adequate antidepressant therapy, and about 30% attempt suicide during their lifetime. Given this elevated risk, identifying treatments that rapidly reduce depressive symptoms and suicidality while improving...
International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice
June 1, 2026
Damian Swieczkowski, Aleksander Kwaśny, Michal Pruc et al.
To explore sex, racial and ethnic disparities in esketamine clinical trials for mental health disorders registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. We conducted a registry-based cross-sectional analysis of interventional esketamine trials with results posted on ClinicalTrials.gov (cut-off date: 10 February 2025). Using predefined eligibility criteria, two investigators independently extracted and...
European Neuropsychopharmacology
June 1, 2026
Andreas Reif, Yağcıoğlu Ae Anıl, Istvan Bitter et al.
3 citations
Optimising patient outcomes in treatment resistant depression (TRD) requires treatments which provide sustained remission, without relapse, and tolerability in the long term. ESCAPE-LTE (NCT04829318) was a phase IV, single-arm, 2-year (104 weeks) long-term extension of ESCAPE-TRD (NCT04338321; 32 weeks), a rater-blinded, randomised, active-controlled trial, which evaluated the safety,...