Ketamine is increasingly used for treatment-resistant depression, especially after FDA approval of esketamine, yet significant barriers to access remain. Intravenous administration is the most common method, with intramuscular and sublingual routes emerging. Patients are predominantly middle-aged (36-64 years old), and financial obstacles due to limited insurance coverage are notable. Access is limited in rural areas, and private clinics offer more flexible treatment than hospitals. The absence of long-term outcome data and variability in protocols underscore the need for standardization and further research.
A proof-of-concept study tested the MindMed Session Monitoring System (MSMS), a continuous passive monitoring system designed for use during treatment sessions with consciousness-altering drugs. Participants completed 129 Spravato sessions with MSMS at an outpatient psychiatry clinic. Results indicated high rates of data quality and self-reported usability among both participants and healthcare providers. These findings suggest that such systems could assist with patient monitoring during consciousness-altering treatments, potentially reducing the burden on providers and improving accessibility.