Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and intranasal esketamine are effective treatment options for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) that have not been directly compared. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of rTMS, intranasal esketamine, and pharmacotherapy for TRD using data from two randomised clinical trials (RCTs). This secondary analysis of individual patient data...
To assess the impact of low-dose intravenous esketamine on postpartum depression scores in women undergoing cesarean section. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 186 women aged 20-50 years receiving epidural anesthesia for cesarean section were divided into three groups: Group A (0.25 mg/kg esketamine intraoperatively + esketamine in PCIA), Group B (0.25 mg/kg esketamine...
Background. Major depressive disorder affects 20% of the global population, with treatment-resistant depression in 10-30% of cases. Patients with acute suicidal ideation need immediate intervention, yet conventional antidepressants require weeks to work. Esketamine offers rapid symptom reduction through NMDA receptor antagonism. Aim. To systematically review current evidence on efficacy and...
In 2019, the FDA and EMA approved intranasal esketamine for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The current study re-evaluated its efficacy and safety. This registered report presents a systematic review and individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) assessing intranasal esketamine for TRD. Two reviewers independently screened...
Depression is a debilitating mental disorder affecting millions worldwide, yet current pharmacological treatments, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), often exhibit delayed onset and limited efficacy. The chronic social defeat (CSD) stress model in mice is a well-established preclinical paradigm for inducing depression-like behaviors and evaluating antidepressants...
Ketamine and its enantiomer esketamine are NMDA receptor antagonists that have shown consistent antidepressant effects in major depression disorder (MDD). These effects suggest an active role of glutamate in the pathophysiology of depression. It has been hypothesized that acute increase of glutamate neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex following treatment with (es)ketamine leads to...
Pharmacological ResearchNovember 22, 2025Zhuo-Ning Zhang, Xin-Yu Hao, Chen Cai et al.5 citations
This randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial evaluated the efficacy of a single intravenous dose of esketamine (0.3mg/kg) administered at anesthesia induction in reducing postoperative depression and anxiety among patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery. A total of 142 patients from three centers were randomly assigned to receive esketamine or saline. The primary outcomes were the...
Purpose: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a common phenomenon and a considerable clinical challenge; recently, esketamine in conjunction with an oral antidepressant (AD) has emerged as a potential treatment for TRD. Several studies have shown the efficacy of esketamine in improving depressive symptoms. This prospective study aims to explore the long-term effects of esketamine therapy on...
Recent antidepressant drug development focuses on a next generation of drugs to rapidly relieve symptoms. Yet, how ketamine, the prototype rapid-acting antidepressant, maintains symptom relief days after drug elimination, and how repeated doses sustain longer-lasting therapeutic effects, remains unclear. Derived from elements of metaplasticity (synaptic priming), this review discusses a...
The aim of the study was to evaluate the practice of using ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAT) in accordance with international clinical guidelines at the State Institution "Center for Mental Health and Veterans' Rehabilitation 'Lisova Polyana' of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine" (Ukraine).Adapting the international clinical guidelines on ketamine therapy for treatmentresistant depression...