Functional connectivity subtypes during a positive mood induction: Predicting clinical response in a randomized controlled trial of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression.
Journal of psychopathology and clinical science April 1, 2025 Shabnam Hossein, Mary L Woody, Benjamin Panny et al. 3 citations
Ketamine rapidly improves symptoms of treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but because TRD varies widely among patients, markers are needed to personalize treatment. This study measured brain functional connectivity during positive mood processing in 152 adults with TRD before they received either ketamine or a saline placebo. Two connectivity-based subgroups emerged: Subgroup A (110 patients) and Subgroup B (42 patients). Ketamine improved depression uniformly across both subgroups. However, among patients given saline, those in Subgroup B were more likely to show a placebo response 24 hours later than those in Subgroup A. Thus, brain connectivity patterns predicted placebo response but not ketamine response.