Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41572832›Full record

ArticleBJPsych open2026

Long-term effectiveness and side-effects of intranasal esketamine in treatment-resistant depression: real-world, single-arm study of over 100 sessions.

Nawfel Ayad, Karim Abdel Aziz, Samer Makhoul, Ban Abbas, Syed Fahad Javaid

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BJPsych open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

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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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

5 authors.

Nawfel AyadAl Reem Neuroscience Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Karim Abdel AzizDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, https://ror.org/01km6p862United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7609-7756
Samer MakhoulAl Reem Neuroscience Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Ban AbbasAl Reem Neuroscience Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Syed Fahad JavaidDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, https://ror.org/01km6p862United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6467-8150

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTreatment-resistant depression (TRD) poses a significant clinical challenge, with limited evidence guiding long-term pharmacological strategies. Esketamine, a glutamatergic modulator, has demonstrated short-term efficacy in TRD, but data on its extended use in real-world settings remains scarce.

aimsThis study aimed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and side-effects of intranasal esketamine in adults with TRD over more than 100 treatment sessions.

methodWe conducted a retrospective, single-arm, pre-post study of 20 patients with TRD at a psychiatric out-patient clinic in the United Arab Emirates. All participants received ≥100 sessions of intranasal esketamine alongside oral antidepressants. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scales. Side-effects were monitored through blood pressure, sedation, dissociation, urinary symptoms and psychiatric symptoms.

resultsAfter an average of 129 esketamine sessions (mean duration 2.5 years), PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores significantly decreased (

conclusionsIntranasal esketamine demonstrated sustained effectiveness and an acceptable side-effect profile in a real-world TRD cohort with extensive psychiatric comorbidity. These findings support its long-term use in complex clinical populations, and underscore the need for further prospective, multi-site studies.

Indexed as

esketaminelong-term effectivenessmaintenance therapyreal-world evidenceTreatment-resistant depression

Identifiers

PMID41572832
PMCPMC12835693

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