Psychiatry Research
September 14, 2026
Kelei Xiao, Yealin Woo, Christine E. Dri et al.
Cognitive impairment is a core feature of major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). Most conventional antidepressants do not have direct and clinically relevant procognitive effects. Ketamine and esketamine are effective in treating treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Herein, this systematic review aims to evaluate the effects of both pharmacotherapeutics on cognitive...
International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science
September 11, 2026
Marta Borkowska, Małgorzata Witaszczyk, Alicja Sołtan et al.
Background: Ketamine and esketamine have been studied as rapid-acting interventions in adults with depressive disorders and suicidal ideation, but findings vary across populations, settings, comparators, routes, and outcome measures. Aim: To examine their effects on suicidal ideation within the first 24 hours and to identify factors contributing to variability across studies. Methods: This...
Psychiatry International
September 10, 2026
Tommaso Barlattani, Giorgio Sernia, Chiara D’Amelio et al.
Background: Evidence for repeated intranasal esketamine in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) remains preliminary, particularly when OCD co-occurs with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Methods: We report a 58-year-old woman treated with intranasal esketamine in routine clinical care for TRD; change in obsessive–compulsive symptoms was followed as a secondary observational outcome. Her...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
M Saje, Jurij Bon, Aleš Oblak
Abstract Background Esketamine is a NMDA receptor antagonist that has been approved as treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Unlike serotoninergic therapies requiring weeks for effect, intranasal esketamine modulates glutamate neurotransmission, often yielding symptom relief within hours and significant response rates within one month [1]. This rapid action is particularly...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
Y-H Chan, H-M Chang
Abstract Background Esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine, is an NMDA receptor antagonist approved for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Although regulated clinical trials suggest a low risk of misuse, concerns remain that esketamine exposure may facilitate transition to ketamine dependence, particularly in East Asia where illicit ketamine is widely available. Aims & Objectives To...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
Mostafa El Mansari, Naomichi Okamoto, Pierre Blier
Abstract Background Low-dose racemic ketamine enhances the firing rate and burst activity of rat norepinephrine neurons in the locus coeruleus, as well as the population activity of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area [El Iskandrani et al, 2015]. These brainstem monoamine nuclei densely innervate the prefrontal cortex (PFC), whereas clinical studies have shown a facilitation of...
Journal of Psychiatric Research
September 7, 2026
Objective: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is associated with severe functional impairment, poor quality of life, and increased suicide risk. This study evaluated the effectiveness of intranasal esketamine on depressive symptoms, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and quality of life in patients with TRD, exploring whether outcomes differed according to concomitant antidepressant class (SSRI...
Research Square
September 7, 2026
Jennifer L Phillips, Ifeoluwa Olaoluwa, Areebah Ahmed et al.
preprint
Abstract Metabolic, inflammatory, and neurotrophic measures may provide complementary insight into biological heterogeneity underlying treatment-resistant depression and response to ketamine-based treatments. However, biomarker studies of ketamine treatment have focused on individual markers or biological domains, most commonly inflammatory or neurotrophic, while metabolic measures remain...
Drug safety
September 2, 2026
You Wang, Alexandra S Storaci, G Caleb Alexander et al.
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is associated with elevated suicide risk, but real-world evidence on whether esketamine reduces suicide attempts and intentional self-harm remains limited. The aim was to estimate whether current esketamine exposure was associated with a higher or lower risk of recorded nonfatal, medically attended suicide attempt or intentional self-harm among adults with...
Drug Design, Development and Therapy
September 1, 2026
Xiaoying Cui, Wutao Chen, Jinyu Wang et al.
Purpose: Postoperative anxiety is common in surgical patients and may impair recovery, especially in the patients with preoperative anxiety. However, effective strategies for treating postoperative anxiety remain limited. We hypothesized that esketamine could reduce postoperative anxiety in patients with preoperative anxiety undergoing major abdominal tumor surgery. Patients and Methods: 180...