Compassionate use of esketamine intranasal in patients with severe major depressive disorder resistant to the treatment

Background: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is defined as the failure of at least two antidepressants in adequate doses and timing during a major depressive episode. Esketamine intranasal (ESK-IN) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for the tr...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gutiérrez-Rojas, L, Vendrell-Serres, J, Ramos-Quiroga, JA, Etxeandia-Pradera, JI, Aguilar, E, De Santiago-Díaz, AI, Hernández-Huerta, D, Tordera, V, Vázquez-Ventoso, C, Bolívar, M, Abril, A, Catalán-Barragán, R, García-Jiménez, J
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunitat Valenciana (FISABIO)
Repositorio:r-FISABIO. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:r-fisabio___::54b20c939a2e9ebfa35b56133e6d741f
Acceso en línea:https://fisabio.portalinvestigacion.com/publicaciones/20704
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Intranasal esketamine
treatment-resistant depression
compassionate use
functional impairment
psychotherapy
Descripción
Sumario:Background: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is defined as the failure of at least two antidepressants in adequate doses and timing during a major depressive episode. Esketamine intranasal (ESK-IN) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of TRD in combination with other antidepressants.Aims: To assess the effectiveness and tolerability of a sample of TRD patients who received treatment with ESK-IN as part of the compassionate use program.Methods: A retrospective, observational study was carried out on patients with a diagnosis of TRD enrolled in the early access program of ESK-IN in nine centers. Effectiveness was assessed with the Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS) at four time points: baseline, 28, 90, and 180 days of treatment.Results: The sample included 71 patients (70% women) with a mean baseline MADRS score of 38.27 +/- 5.9 and total or partial work disability rates of 85%. ESK-IN treatment was associated with a statistically and clinically significant reduction in the severity of depressive symptoms at all time points assessed. The presence of side effects was common but the majority were mild in severity and resolved after the observation period. Those patients who received psychotherapy in combination with ESK-IN showed a significantly lower MADRS score at 90 and 180 days than those patients who did not undergo psychotherapy.Conclusion: ESK-IN has proven to be effective and safe in a clinical sample of patients with severe TRD. To optimize clinical outcomes, the pharmacological treatment for TRD should always be integrated into a comprehensive therapeutic plan that encompasses strategies such as psychotherapy, social support, and family interventions.