Efficacy and Safety of Esketamine Combined with Antidepressants for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Meta-Analysis
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment December 1, 2022 Peng Liu, Shanshan Zhang, Yun Liang et al. 16 citations
Adding esketamine to an antidepressant improves outcomes for people with treatment-resistant depression more than placebo plus antidepressant. Across seven randomized controlled trials involving 701 patients receiving esketamine plus antidepressant and 551 receiving placebo plus antidepressant, the combination led to greater reductions in depression severity scores (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and self-rating depression scale), higher response and remission rates at the end of the double-blind induction period, and better quality of life and health status ratings. Minor adverse reactions occurred with esketamine.