Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40305000›Full record

Observational studyPharmacological reports : PR2025

Non-response to short-term ketamine use for treatment-resistant depression.

Michał Walaszek, Wiesław Jerzy Cubała, Zofia Kachlik, Michał Pastuszak, Krzysztof Pastuszak, Aleksander Kwaśny

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Pharmacological reports : PR, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Michał WalaszekDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, ul. Smoluchowskiego 17, Gdańsk, 80-214, Poland. michal.walaszek@gumed.edu.pl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-6105-1528
Wiesław Jerzy CubałaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, ul. Smoluchowskiego 17, Gdańsk, 80-214, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6343-8454
Zofia KachlikDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, ul. Smoluchowskiego 17, Gdańsk, 80-214, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-4482-1191
Michał PastuszakDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, ul. Smoluchowskiego 17, Gdańsk, 80-214, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5132-9426
Krzysztof PastuszakDepartment of Algorithms and System Modeling, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5562-0114
Aleksander KwaśnyDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, ul. Smoluchowskiego 17, Gdańsk, 80-214, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-4061-775X

Funding

Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny 01-10025/0008245/01/221/221/0/2025
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundKetamine is currently gaining attention as a rapid-acting antidepressant for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, many patients fail to respond, and limited data exist on predictors of non-response. This study aims to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical features associated with non-response to ketamine among TRD patients.

methodsThis is a post-hoc analysis of a naturalistic observational study, which enrolled 40 inpatients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder and analyzed sociodemographic and clinical features in responders and non-responders stratified per Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) during short-term ketamine administration (intravenous dosage: 0,5 mg/kg and orally: 2.0 or 2.5 mg/kg) that comprise over 4 weeks.

resultsIn this study, 30 patients (75%) were classified as non-responders. No significant differences were detected among sociodemographic and clinical features beyond the history of substance use disorder (SUD) - only 53.3% of non-responders reported prior SUD (vs. 100%; p = 0.0075) and a lower number of psychiatric comorbidities (p = 0.0381).

conclusionThis study highlights key characteristics of TRD non-responders to ketamine, including lower rates of SUD and fewer psychiatric comorbidities. These findings suggest that a higher burden of traditional TRD risk factors may not limit ketamine efficacy and could even enhance response compared to "pure" major depressive disorder. Identifying potential non-responders early can optimize treatment decisions, reduce ineffective exposure, and guide future research on improving TRD management.

Indexed as

Antidepressive AgentsDepressive Disorder, Treatment-ResistantKetamineMajor Depressive DisorderAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPsychiatric Status Rating ScalesTreatment OutcomeAntidepressive AgentsKetamineKetamineMood disordersPsychopharmacologyTreatment non-responseTreatment-resistant depression

Identifiers

PMID40305000
PMCPMC12241212

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.