Researchers to study esketamine for depression, suicidal thoughts

Researchers plan to evaluate the efficacy of esketamine in treating depression and suicidal thoughts among individuals who present to the emergency department or hospital, according to a press release.

“[Depression] is a treatable illness. People shouldn’t have the false assumption that they have to live their life like this,” John Zajecka, MD, clinical director of the Woman’s Board Depression Treatment and Research Center at Rush University Medical Center, said in a press release. “Despite all the treatments we have today, suicide rates have increased. You would think we’d see a reduction.”

In an effort to improve treatment for suicidal thoughts, Zajecka and colleagues are studying the use of esketamine to treat depression and significant suicidal thoughts among individuals who seek help in an ED or are referred for hospitalization by a health care provider.

Half of the study participants will receive esketamine at 4-day intervals following hospitalization, while the other half will receive placebo. All study participants will receive standard treatment for depression.

Psychiatric assessment conducted an hour after receiving treatment will evaluate the severity of suicidal thoughts among all study participants.

Rush University Medical Center is among a number of academic medical centers participating in the study, which is sponsored by Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

“One of the most important things we can do as doctors is provide hope and let people know there are treatments out there and never give up,” Zajecka said in the release. “Hope is so important in this.”