European Psychiatry
June 1, 2026
V. Casati, Kevin la Monica, Mauro Angeletti et al.
Introduction Intranasal esketamine has emerged as an innovative treatment for TRD due to its rapid antidepressant effects. However, the clinical response is heterogeneous, and growing evidence suggests that comorbid personality disorders (PDs) may significantly shape treatment outcomes. Although PDs are frequently diagnosed in TRD patients, little is known about their differential influence on...
European Psychiatry
June 1, 2026
Giada Versaci, Miriam Olivola, Kevin la Monica et al.
Introduction Esketamine-induced dissociation is a transient, pharmacologically mediated alteration in consciousness, often distinct from pathological dissociation. While not required for clinical improvement, these states may engage neural circuits implicated in therapeutic change. Objectives This study explores patients’ lived experiences of dissociation as potentially meaningful transitional...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
June 2026
Vasilios G Masdrakis, Zoe Tebbs, Vasilios Natsis et al.
Ketamine and esketamine ("es/ketamine") treatment protocols have been investigated in patients' samples with treatment-refractory anxiety disorders. We systematically reviewed publications in which es/ketamine was used to treat anxiety symptoms in the context of either Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) anxiety disorders or treatment-resistant...
European Psychiatry
June 1, 2026
O. Płaza, Robert Madejek, M. M. Dutsch-Wicherek et al.
Introduction Treatment-resistant depression (TRD), which affects about 30% of patients with major depressive disorder, emerges when patients do not respond adequately to at least two antidepressant trials of proper dose and duration. The EMA approved esketamine nasal spray, the first registered psychedelic medication, in 2019 for TRD treatment. In July 2023, Poland launched B.147, the country’s...
European Psychiatry
June 1, 2026
Nawfel Ayad, Samer Makhoul
Introduction Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) poses a significant clinical challenge, with limited evidence guiding long-term pharmacological strategies. Esketamine, a glutamatergic modulator, has demonstrated short-term efficacy in TRD, but data on its extended use in real-world settings remains scarce Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and tolerability of...
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
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
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
J. Marta, Â. Ferreira, C. Batista et al.
Introduction Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) is a major clinical challenge, affecting about 30% of patients with major depressive disorder. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality, reflected in increased suicide risk, hospitalizations, and impaired quality of life. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) remains the therapeutic gold standard, particularly in severe cases with psychotic...