Brain stimulation
January 1, 2024
Charles R Conway, Scott T Aaronson, Harold A Sackeim et al.
16 citations
Patients with treatment-resistant unipolar major depressive disorder who qualified for the RECOVER trial—the largest randomized sham-controlled study of vagus nerve stimulation for a psychiatric condition—had severe disability, a median of 11.0 prior failed antidepressant treatments, and high rates of suicidality (77% with suicidal ideation, 40% with previous suicide attempts). Seventy-one percent had received at least one prior interventional psychiatric treatment (electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or esketamine). Compared to those without such history, recipients of interventional treatments were younger, more severely depressed, had greater suicidal ideation, earlier onset of depression, and more failed medication trials.
BMJ open
July 13, 2026
Thomas D Meyer, Lauren N Vale, Maya Ibrahim et al.
A protocol describes an upcoming feasibility study testing psilocybin-assisted therapy in 10 outpatients with bipolar II disorder who have mild to moderate passive suicidal thoughts. Participants may receive two oral doses of 25 mg psilocybin about four weeks apart, combined with a structured mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioral therapy protocol. The study aims to assess the acceptability and safety of this approach, measuring changes in suicidality and depressive symptoms, and to gather preliminary data for a future randomized trial. Individuals with bipolar disorder and suicidality have typically been excluded from psilocybin trials due to safety concerns.
European Psychiatry
April 1, 2025
Ilídio Oliveira, A. L. Stephany, M. L. Geremias et al.
Ketamine reduces depressive symptoms similarly in people with anxious depression (AxD) and those with non-anxious depression (NAxD). A meta-analysis of eight clinical trials with 536 participants found no significant difference in symptom improvement between the two groups at 13 days or 26–28 days after treatment, nor in overall depression response. The AxD group had more severe baseline depressive symptoms, consistent with earlier reports. The authors conclude that ketamine is a viable treatment for anxious depression, a condition that may respond poorly to traditional antidepressants. The analysis is limited by few studies, small samples, and moderate heterogeneity.