Ketamine, esketamine improve depression symptoms

Intravenous ketamine and intranasal esketamine were shown to improve symptoms of depression among adults, researchers reported in JAMA Psychiatry.

“The most important finding of our study is that both esketamine and [intravenous] ketamine can help alleviate symptoms in patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression, as long as they are provided in an evidence-based manner and with rigorous clinical standards,” Sina Nikayin, MD, assistant professor of psychology at Yale University School of Medicine, told Healio.

Of the 210 patients included in the analysis, 126 (61.4%) received IV ketamine, and 81 received intranasal esketamine.

Favoring IV ketamine, the estimated group difference in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score by treatment end was 2.15 (95% CI, –0.06 to 4.37). Group differences in Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR) scores after full treatment also favored ketamine (1.59; 95% CI, 0.24-2.94).

After six full treatments, differences in MADRS scores (2.49; 95% CI, 0.01-4.98) and QIDS-SF scores (1.64; 95% CI, 0.08-3.19) favored ketamine, as well.

“The findings suggest there might be some differences between these treatments, which require further studies to clarify,” Nikayin said. “These studies, in turn, can provide us with the knowledge to better fine-tune our treatment methods and choose the most appropriate treatment modality for each individual patient.”