The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
P-C Wu, T-P Su, C-T Li et al.
Abstract Background While ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), response heterogeneity necessitates robust biomarkers to optimize clinical decision-making. Aims & Objectives To validate a machine-learning (ML) framework for predicting ketamine antidepressant response from pre-treatment multimodal neuroimaging features across independent...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
Rei Yokoyama, M Matsumi, S Asano et al.
Abstract Background The execution of prosocial behaviors requires the ability to accurately understand and infer others’ affective states. Impairments in prosocial functioning have been shown to be associated with the pathology of several psychiatric disorders. In particular, individuals with depression exhibit reduced cognitive and affective responses to others’ emotions. These impairments may...
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
C Zarate
Abstract Background Ketamine produces rapid antidepressant and anti-anhedonic effects in treatment-resistant depression, but response is heterogeneous and mechanisms at the circuit level remain incompletely defined. Convergent imaging work implicates anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and reward-related networks as key loci for ketamine’s therapeutic and...
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 F. 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...
The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry
September 6, 2026
Balwinder Singh, Siamak MahmoudianDehkordi, Jennifer L. Vande Voort et al.
OBJECTIVE: Ketamine is a rapid-acting antidepressant with an incompletely understood mechanism of action. Pharmacometabolomics can identify pathways underlying its effects and response variability. Using data from the Bio-K trial (NCT03156504), a multisite open-label study, we characterised metabolomic signatures of intravenous (IV) racemic ketamine in adults with treatment-resistant depression...
Annals of Palliative Medicine
September 3, 2026
Danielle B Tometich, Christina L Hersh, Matthew A Murphy et al.
Background: Given the growing population of patients living with metastatic cancer, palliative care providers need every available tool for symptom management. We conducted a rapid review of the literature on palliative uses of ketamine for pain and depression in people with cancer. Methods: We systematically searched for studies published since 2015 that examined palliative uses of ketamine in...
Frontiers in Psychiatry
September 3, 2026
Anita Słupska, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała, Damian Swieczkowski et al.
Objectives Ketamine and esketamine are increasingly used for treatment-resistant depressive disorders, particularly when rapid symptom reduction is clinically desirable. Intranasal esketamine has a product-specific regulatory framework in several jurisdictions, whereas most racemic ketamine formulations remain off-label for psychiatric indications. This narrative review provides practical...
medRxiv
September 2, 2026
Yingqian Zhang, Xiaoman Zhuang, Mengqi Niu et al.
preprint
Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe mental illness associated with severe clinical consequences and substantial societal burden. It’s characterized by immune-inflammatory dysregulation and immune sensitization. Objective: To determine whether in vitro ketamine attenuates phytohemagglutinin (PHA)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immune sensitization in patients with MDD and...