Frontiers in Psychiatry
December 22, 2022
Wei Zheng, Xin-Hu Yang, Li-Mei Gu et al.
4 citations
After six intravenous injections of 0.5 mg/kg ketamine, both patients with melancholic depression (30 individuals) and those with non-melancholic depression (105 individuals) showed similar improvement in anhedonic symptoms. The antianhedonic response rate was 43.3% in the melancholic group versus 50.5% in the non-melancholic group, a difference that was not statistically significant. Remission rates were also similar: 20.0% and 21.0%, respectively. By day 26, the melancholic group had significantly lower anhedonia scores on the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale compared to the non-melancholic group. Ketamine appears equally effective for reducing anhedonia in both melancholic and non-melancholic depression.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2025
Jian-Qiang Tan, Li-Mei Gu, Yan-Ling Zhou et al.
2 citations
Patients with depression and a higher baseline body mass index (BMI) experienced greater reductions in depressive symptoms after six intravenous ketamine infusions compared with those with a lower baseline BMI. In a study of 135 patients (103 with major depressive disorder, 32 with bipolar depression), those with a lower BMI (under 26) showed a significantly higher response rate after the first infusion (40.3% vs. 23.6%), but this difference disappeared by the sixth infusion. The overall change in depression scores over time differed significantly between the groups, with the higher-BMI group showing greater improvement. The findings are from an exploratory, post-hoc analysis of an open-label, single-arm trial.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2025
Zhan-Ming Shi, Xing-Bing Huang, Yan-Ling Zhou et al.
1 citation
China's National Health Commission prioritizes early diagnosis and standardized treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Rapid treatment centers across the country use electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), intravenous ketamine/esketamine, esketamine nasal spray, magnetic seizure therapy (MST), and Stanford Neuromodulation Therapy (SNT). This policy and practice review examines the strengths and shortcomings of these techniques in China, noting their potential to accelerate recovery. The findings offer insights for other countries and regions adopting rapid antidepressant strategies.