medRxiv
September 11, 2026
Srdjan Sumarac, Tristan Lawson, Leonardo Favi Bocca et al.
preprint
Ketamine and subcallosal cingulate (SCC) deep brain stimulation (DBS) have each shown antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression, yet how ketamine modulates SCC physiology during chronic stimulation remains poorly understood. We analyzed 5,907 hours of bilateral SCC sensing, 485 participant-triggered recordings across 193 days, 47 ketamine dosing episodes, and an in-clinic...
Journal of Psychiatric Research
September 10, 2026
Background: Major depressive and bipolar disorders are leading causes of disability, with many patients developing treatment-resistant depression (TRD/TRBD). Ketamine offers rapid symptom relief, yet recovery extends beyond symptoms. Life engagement (LE) is a key patient-centered outcome encompassing the ability to experience pleasure, function effectively, and participate in meaningful...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
Johanna Keeler, Hubertus Himmerich, Janet Treasure et al.
Abstract Background Approximately a third of people with anorexia nervosa (AN) develop a severe and enduring form of the illness, which is often accompanied by depression. This can be a key barrier to recovery. Anti-depressant medications are less effective in treating depression in patients with acute AN, thus new pharmacological treatment options are needed. Ketamine is currently used for...
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...
HEC Forum
September 9, 2026
Gun Moon, Jack Noto, Zachary Shuler et al.
Ketamine has emerged as an important intervention in contemporary psychiatry, yet its acute dissociative effects remain ethically under-theorized. Clinical approaches often frame dissociation as either a liability to minimize or a therapeutic feature to promote, but both views oversimplify a context-dependent phenomenon. We propose that ketamine-induced dissociation is better understood as an...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
Omer A. Syed, Fahad Alam, Peter Giacobbe
Abstract Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating medical condition that places a significant psychological, social, and financial burden on the individuals and families of those affected. However, a third of individuals with MDD do not respond to standard treatments – diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Repeated dosing of intravenous (IV) ketamine has...
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...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
September 9, 2026
Mario F Juruena
Abstract Background Ketamine has rapid antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but optimal implementation, route selection, and longer-term maintenance strategies remain areas of active clinical development. At the Maudsley Advanced Treatment Service (MATS), ketamine and esketamine are delivered within a specialist governance framework, using multiple...