Repeated oral esketamine in patients with treatment resistant depression and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder

J. K.E. Veraart; M. van Westenbrugge; J. E. van Wulfften Palthe; A. van der Meij; R. A. Schoevers; J. de Jong

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15883

Repeated oral esketamine in patients with treatment resistant depression and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder

J. K.E. Veraart^*
, M. van Westenbrugge
, J. E. van Wulfften Palthe
, A. van der Meij
, R. A. Schoevers
, J. de Jong

^*Corresponding author for this work

Pharmacy

Parnassia Bavo Groep
Pro Persona Mental Health Care
University Medical Centre Groningen
Parnassia Psychiatric Institute
University of Groningen
PsyQ (The Hague)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

83 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Introduction: Ketamine and its S-enantiomer esketamine are novel pharmacotherapeutic options for treatment resistant depression (TRD). There is growing evidence on the efficacy for other psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is hypothesized that psychotherapy may further potentiate the effects of (es)ketamine in psychiatric disorders. Methods: Repeated oral esketamine was prescribed once or twice weekly in five patients suffering from TRD and comorbid PTSD. We describe the clinical effects of esketamine and report data from psychometric instruments and patients’ perspectives. Results: Esketamine treatment duration ranged from six weeks to a year. In four patients, we observed improvement in depressive symptoms, increased resilience and more receptiveness to psychotherapy. One patient experienced symptom worsening in response to a threatening situation during esketamine treatment, highlighting the need for a safe setting. Discussion: (Es)ketamine treatment within a psychotherapeutic framework appears promising in patients with treatment resistant symptoms of depression and PTSD. Controlled trials are warranted to validate these results and to elucidate the optimal treatment methods.

Original language	English
Article number	e15883
Journal	Heliyon
Volume	9
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15883
Publication status	Published - May 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
JV received a speakers fee from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, outside the submitted work. RS received research funding for two randomized clinical trials with generic oral esketamine from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research & Development and the National Health Care Institute, a speakers fee and investigator initiated research grant from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and consultancy fee from Clexio biosciences, both outside the submitted work. MvW, JvWP, AvdM and JdJ report no competing interests.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors

Access to Document

10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15883Licence: CC BY

Repeated oral esketamine in patients with treatment resistant depression and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorderFinal published version, 334 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{e419883aa09849429bc3d4dfba747522,

title = "Repeated oral esketamine in patients with treatment resistant depression and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder",

abstract = "Introduction: Ketamine and its S-enantiomer esketamine are novel pharmacotherapeutic options for treatment resistant depression (TRD). There is growing evidence on the efficacy for other psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is hypothesized that psychotherapy may further potentiate the effects of (es)ketamine in psychiatric disorders. Methods: Repeated oral esketamine was prescribed once or twice weekly in five patients suffering from TRD and comorbid PTSD. We describe the clinical effects of esketamine and report data from psychometric instruments and patients{\textquoteright} perspectives. Results: Esketamine treatment duration ranged from six weeks to a year. In four patients, we observed improvement in depressive symptoms, increased resilience and more receptiveness to psychotherapy. One patient experienced symptom worsening in response to a threatening situation during esketamine treatment, highlighting the need for a safe setting. Discussion: (Es)ketamine treatment within a psychotherapeutic framework appears promising in patients with treatment resistant symptoms of depression and PTSD. Controlled trials are warranted to validate these results and to elucidate the optimal treatment methods.",

author = "Veraart, \{J. K.E.\} and \{van Westenbrugge\}, M. and \{van Wulfften Palthe\}, \{J. E.\} and \{van der Meij\}, A. and Schoevers, \{R. A.\} and \{de Jong\}, J.",

note = "Funding Information: JV received a speakers fee from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, outside the submitted work. RS received research funding for two randomized clinical trials with generic oral esketamine from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research \& Development and the National Health Care Institute, a speakers fee and investigator initiated research grant from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and consultancy fee from Clexio biosciences, both outside the submitted work. MvW, JvWP, AvdM and JdJ report no competing interests. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors",

year = "2023",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15883",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

journal = "Heliyon",

issn = "2405-8440",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Repeated oral esketamine in patients with treatment resistant depression and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder

AU - Veraart, J. K.E.

AU - van Westenbrugge, M.

AU - van Wulfften Palthe, J. E.

AU - van der Meij, A.

AU - Schoevers, R. A.

AU - de Jong, J.

N1 - Funding Information: JV received a speakers fee from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, outside the submitted work. RS received research funding for two randomized clinical trials with generic oral esketamine from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research & Development and the National Health Care Institute, a speakers fee and investigator initiated research grant from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and consultancy fee from Clexio biosciences, both outside the submitted work. MvW, JvWP, AvdM and JdJ report no competing interests. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors

PY - 2023/5

Y1 - 2023/5

N2 - Introduction: Ketamine and its S-enantiomer esketamine are novel pharmacotherapeutic options for treatment resistant depression (TRD). There is growing evidence on the efficacy for other psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is hypothesized that psychotherapy may further potentiate the effects of (es)ketamine in psychiatric disorders. Methods: Repeated oral esketamine was prescribed once or twice weekly in five patients suffering from TRD and comorbid PTSD. We describe the clinical effects of esketamine and report data from psychometric instruments and patients’ perspectives. Results: Esketamine treatment duration ranged from six weeks to a year. In four patients, we observed improvement in depressive symptoms, increased resilience and more receptiveness to psychotherapy. One patient experienced symptom worsening in response to a threatening situation during esketamine treatment, highlighting the need for a safe setting. Discussion: (Es)ketamine treatment within a psychotherapeutic framework appears promising in patients with treatment resistant symptoms of depression and PTSD. Controlled trials are warranted to validate these results and to elucidate the optimal treatment methods.

AB - Introduction: Ketamine and its S-enantiomer esketamine are novel pharmacotherapeutic options for treatment resistant depression (TRD). There is growing evidence on the efficacy for other psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is hypothesized that psychotherapy may further potentiate the effects of (es)ketamine in psychiatric disorders. Methods: Repeated oral esketamine was prescribed once or twice weekly in five patients suffering from TRD and comorbid PTSD. We describe the clinical effects of esketamine and report data from psychometric instruments and patients’ perspectives. Results: Esketamine treatment duration ranged from six weeks to a year. In four patients, we observed improvement in depressive symptoms, increased resilience and more receptiveness to psychotherapy. One patient experienced symptom worsening in response to a threatening situation during esketamine treatment, highlighting the need for a safe setting. Discussion: (Es)ketamine treatment within a psychotherapeutic framework appears promising in patients with treatment resistant symptoms of depression and PTSD. Controlled trials are warranted to validate these results and to elucidate the optimal treatment methods.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85158884461

U2 - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15883

DO - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15883

M3 - Article

C2 - 37223704

AN - SCOPUS:85158884461

SN - 2405-8440

VL - 9

JO - Heliyon

JF - Heliyon

IS - 5

M1 - e15883

ER -

Repeated oral esketamine in patients with treatment resistant depression and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this