Mu-Hong Chen1, Chih-Ming Cheng2, Cheng-Ta Li3, Shih-Jen Tsai2, Wei-Chen Lin2, Ya-Mei Bai2, Tung-Ping Su4. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec.2, Shih-Pai Road, Beitou district, Taipei, 112, Taiwan; Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: kremer7119@gmail.com. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec.2, Shih-Pai Road, Beitou district, Taipei, 112, Taiwan; Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec.2, Shih-Pai Road, Beitou district, Taipei, 112, Taiwan; Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: on5083@msn.com. 4. Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec.2, Shih-Pai Road, Beitou district, Taipei, 112, Taiwan; Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: tomsu0402@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This posthoc analysis compared the antidepressant and antisuicidal effects of low-dose ketamine infusion with those of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on treatment-resistant depression (TRD). METHODS: In the ketamine infusion trial, 48 patients with TRD were randomized to receive a single infusion of 0.5 mg/kg ketamine or normal saline. In the rTMS trial, 105 patients were randomly assigned to intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), 10-Hz rTMS, or sham stimulation. The 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) was administered. RESULTS: The antidepressant effect was prominent at Day 7 postinfusion in the ketamine group but steadily accumulated with the treatment duration from Day 7 to 14 in the iTBS and 10-Hz rTMS groups, regardless of the level of treatment resistance (all p < .01). Low-dose ketamine infusion and iTBS exerted superior effects on suicidal symptoms (HDRS item 3) than the other three groups (p < .001). The antidepressant effect of iTBS/10-Hz rTMS may persist for up to 3 months; however, the antidepressant effect of a single low-dose ketamine infusion did not persist over a month. DISCUSSION: Both low-dose ketamine infusion and rTMS/TBS must be included in TRD treatment but may be applied in different clinical situations.
BACKGROUND: This posthoc analysis compared the antidepressant and antisuicidal effects of low-dose ketamine infusion with those of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on treatment-resistant depression (TRD). METHODS: In the ketamine infusion trial, 48 patients with TRD were randomized to receive a single infusion of 0.5 mg/kg ketamine or normal saline. In the rTMS trial, 105 patients were randomly assigned to intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), 10-Hz rTMS, or sham stimulation. The 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) was administered. RESULTS: The antidepressant effect was prominent at Day 7 postinfusion in the ketamine group but steadily accumulated with the treatment duration from Day 7 to 14 in the iTBS and 10-Hz rTMS groups, regardless of the level of treatment resistance (all p < .01). Low-dose ketamine infusion and iTBS exerted superior effects on suicidal symptoms (HDRS item 3) than the other three groups (p < .001). The antidepressant effect of iTBS/10-Hz rTMS may persist for up to 3 months; however, the antidepressant effect of a single low-dose ketamine infusion did not persist over a month. DISCUSSION: Both low-dose ketamine infusion and rTMS/TBS must be included in TRD treatment but may be applied in different clinical situations.