Dr Marie Anne Gebara The administration of IV ketamine over the course of 2 months can improve treatment resistant depression (TRD) and executive function in older adults, findings from a new pilot study suggest. Results showed nearly 50% of participants responded to ketamine and 25% achieved complete remission from TRD, as measured by scores on … Read more
A single 25 mg dose of synthetic psilocybin in combination with psychotherapy appears to effectively ease symptoms of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) — at least in the short-term, new research shows. In the largest study of psilocybin for TRD to-date, results of the phase 2b randomized, double-blind trial show participants in the 25-mg dose group experienced … Read more
A simple computer-based neurocognitive training program that emphasizes self-worth can extend the antidepressant effects of ketamine for up to 30 days in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), new research suggests. The double-blind, randomized clinical trial is the first to assess combining ketamine with a low-cost protective learning program, researchers note. They add that the findings … Read more
The broad-spectrum antibiotic minocycline (multiple brands) is not effective when added to standard antidepressant therapy, the largest randomized controlled trial of minocycline in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) shows. In the MinoTRD trial, 6 weeks of minocycline 200 mg daily added to stable antidepressant therapy did not show a statistically significant advantage over placebo on the overall … Read more
Ketamine infusions can help reduce symptoms of suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), new research suggests. Results from a retrospective chart review analysis, which included more than 400 participants with TRD, illustrated that ketamine is a safe and rapid treatment in a real-world patient population, lead author Patrick A. Oliver, … Read more
For the first time, researchers understand what happens to the brain when patients with treatment-resistant depression receive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), they showed that rTMS induces widespread alterations in functional connectivity in brain regions involved in emotion and motor control. ‘How does rTMS work?’ is one of the … Read more
Noninvasive brain stimulation does not appear to augment cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), new research shows. Results of a multicenter, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials showed adjunctive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was not superior to sham-tDCS plus CBT or CBT alone. “Combining these interventions do not lead to added … Read more
Antidepressant use is not associated with significant improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with depression, new research suggests. Researchers who conducted the study admit this finding was unexpected, and outside experts say no firm conclusions can be drawn from the research. “Of course we were surprised by the results,” first author Omar … Read more