INTRODUCTION Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) remains a major challenge in the management of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine and a glutamatergic modulator, has been approved by the FDA and EMA for TRD in 2019. Beyond its rapid antidepressant effects, esketamine may enhance neuroplasticity, facilitating the reconnection with emotional and cognitive...
Accumulating evidence indicates the role of ketamine as a rapid-onset antidepressant, with a rising controversy regarding its cognitive and psychotic effects, especially with long-term use. However, no previous experimental study has directly compared short-term and long-term ketamine effects using a time schedule that simulates infusion protocols in major depressive disorder patients. This...
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a relevant issue in psychiatric practice, driving the exploration of innovative therapeutic alternatives. Ketamine and its enantiomer, esketamine, are emerging as treatments known for their effectiveness as rapid-acting antidepressants. Although previous comparative studies have highlighted some differences in their effects, they did not concurrently...
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents severe symptomology and often co-occurs with depression, warranting novel treatment approaches to address both conditions simultaneously. Ketamine has emerged as a rapid antidepressant and potential treatment for PTSD, with some real-world evidence for effectiveness regardless of comorbidities. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to explore...
Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the standard treatment for Stage 2 or higher treatment-resistant depression, it has several drawbacks. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and intravenous racemic ketamine (IV ketamine) have emerged as potential alternatives, but their comparative effectiveness and safety remain unclear due to limited evidence. We systematically...
Intranasal (IN) esketamine represents a novel add-on treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) with reported favourable effects on insomnia. IN esketamine treatment might similarly reduce the incidence of insomnia as an adverse event (AE). The present meta-analysis therefore investigated whether IN esketamine relative to placebo is associated with a lower incidence of insomnia as an AE...
Ketamine, traditionally known as an anesthetic agent, has garnered attention for its rapid acting antidepressant properties, particularly in patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD). The compound’s unique pharmacological profile primarily as an NMDA receptor antagonist has enabled its repositioning in psychiatric settings, where conventional antidepressants often fall short. This...
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain disorder that severely affects mobility and quality of life. This case report describes an 86-year-old man who has a long-standing history of CRPS-related back and leg pain. Traditional treatments, including opioids and duloxetine, did not improve his symptoms, and due to religious beliefs restricting specific interventions, standard...
Esketamine has been shown to produce a major antidepressant response in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We evaluated the factors associated with achieving remission in these individuals. The study was carried out across four psychiatry departments in Madrid, Spain. Patients aged over 18 years were included if they received esketamine as an augmentation treatment for TRD....
ABSTRACT Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic relapsing condition with a high mortality rate. While medications such as methadone are valuable first-line therapies, retention is poor, with the highest dropout rates early in a treatment attempt. Poor outcomes are due in part to the very high rates of co-morbid depression in people with OUD, as depression can drive opioid use....