A randomized trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist in treatment-resistant major depression.

Abstract in brief

• The study investigated whether ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, can produce rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant major depression, showing significant improvement within 110 minutes that lasted up to a week.
• Results indicated that 71% of participants responded to ketamine treatment, with 29% achieving remission the day after infusion, and 35% maintaining response for at least one week, highlighting ketamine's potential for fast-acting depression relief.
• The findings support the idea that targeting the glutamatergic system, specifically through NMDA receptor antagonism, could represent a promising strategy for developing rapid-acting antidepressant therapies.]