Clinical Outcomes of Intravenous Ketamine Treatment for Depression in the VA Health System.

Intravenous (IV) ketamine is effective for reducing symptoms of major depressive disorder in short-term clinical trials; this study characterized clinical outcomes of repeated infusions in routine clinical practice and the frequency and number of infusions used to sustain symptom improvement. Records of IV ketamine infusions for depression and associated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores were identified from Veterans Health Administration (VA) electronic medical records for patients treated in Fiscal Year 2020 and up to 12 months following the date of their first infusion. Sample patients (n = 215) had a mean baseline PHQ-9 score of 18.

Efficacy and Safety of Low-field Synchronized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS) for Treatment of Major Depression.

Background: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) customarily uses high-field electromagnets to achieve therapeutic efficacy in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Low-field magnetic stimulation also may be useful for treatment of MDD, with fewer treatment-emergent adverse events.

Objective/hypothesis: To examine efficacy, safety, and tolerability of low-field magnetic stimulation synchronized to an individual's alpha frequency (IAF) (synchronized TMS, or sTMS) for treatment of MDD.

Improvement in quality of life with left prefrontal transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with pharmacoresistant major depression: acute and six month outcomes.

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a safe and effective treatment for major depression. We describe quality of life (QOL) outcomes from acute treatment with TMS, and describe the durability of benefit across 24-weeks.

Methods: Three hundred and one medication-free patients with pharmacoresistant major depression were randomized to active or sham TMS in a 6-week controlled trial.

Quantitative electroencephalogram biomarkers for predicting likelihood and speed of achieving sustained remission in major depression: a report from the biomarkers for rapid identification of treatment effectiveness in major depression (BRITE-MD) trial.

Objective: Clinical trials in major depressive disorder (MDD) commonly assess remission at a single endpoint. Complementary, clinically relevant metrics include the likelihood and speed of achieving sustained remission. A neurophysiologic measure, the Antidepressant Treatment Response (ATR) index, previously predicted 8-week outcomes of pharmacotherapy.