Am J Psychiatry May 2021 PMID 33653118

Impact of the KCNQ2/3 Channel Opener Ezogabine on Reward Circuit Activity and Clinical Symptoms in Depression: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Sara Costi, Laurel S Morris, Katherine A Kirkwood, Megan Hoch, Morgan Corniquel, Brittany Vo-Le, Tabish Iqbal, Nisha Chadha, Diego A Pizzagalli, Alexis Whitton, Laura Bevilacqua, Manish K Jha, Stefan Ursu, Alan C Swann, Katherine A Collins

Download social card

Mentions

28
Peak: 10 in Mar 2021
across 5 sources since Mar 2021

Extended reach

48,807
potential audience

Total likes

10

Video views

570

Mentions per month

Mar 2021 – Aug 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter17 posts
  • Facebook4 posts
  • News4 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Reddit1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions predominantly focus on the potential of ezogabine as a new treatment for depression, with comments like 'very promising' and references to improvements in clinical scores. The tone ranges from supportive to cautiously optimistic, emphasizing both the relevance of the findings and the need for further research, which explains the high interest and engagement levels, as well as the moderate impact score based on its potential clinical significance.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the study's findings, noting that ezogabine showed some clinical improvements despite limited neuroimaging changes, indicating general support for its potential as a treatment.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions demonstrate high interest by referencing novel mechanisms, clinical implications, and drug targets, reflecting curiosity among participants.

EngagementHigh engagement

Participants actively analyze the study’s details, mentioning specific outcomes like improvements in depression scores and neurochemical mechanisms, showing deep engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

Multiple posts highlight the significance of this research, framing it as a potential breakthrough or promising new avenue in depression treatment, although some temper expectations.

Abstract in brief

  • This study investigated whether ezogabine, a drug that opens KCNQ23 potassium channels, could improve brain activity related to reward and reduce depression and anhedonia symptoms in patients with depression.
  • The results showed that while ezogabine didn't significantly change brain activity during reward anticipation (the primary neuroimaging goal), it did lead to notable improvements in depression and anhedonia scores compared to placebo.
  • Overall, the findings suggest that targeting KCNQ23 channels might be a promising approach for treating depression and anhedonia, but more research is needed to confirm its effects on brain activity and clinical outcomes.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Journals of The American Psychiatric Association
@APAPubJournals · X

American Journal of Psychiatry Deputy Editor Daniel S. Pine, M.D., provides highlights of the April 2021 issue of the journal Learn More: https://t.co/hTfgr9d8pt

May 11, 2021 · 2 likes · 11,606 followers View post →
P
@psychopharmacol · X

RCT: Although patients with MDD did not show a significant increase in ventral striatum response to reward anticipation with ezogabine, a KCNQ2/3 positive modulator, vs. placebo at 5 weeks, improvement was observed in the MADRS and SHAPS scores https://t.co/NPzfOn7m3m https://t.co/sEPLpWyZy5

Jun 9, 2021 · 2 likes · 1 share · 569 followers View post →
Journals of The American Psychiatric Association
@APAPubJournals · X

The first randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of a KCNQ2/3 channel opener on brain & clinical measures linked to depression & anhedonia showed ezogabine treat. was associated w/ significant improvements in clinician & self-report measures. https://t.co/2aPozGOHMG https://t.co/NYMJiZczER

Mar 4, 2021 · 1 like · 11,606 followers View post →
Researching the Brain
@Brain_Database · X

Impact of the KCNQ2/3 Channel Opener Ezogabine on Reward Circuit Activity and Clinical Symptoms in Depression: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial | American Journal of Psychiatry https://t.co/Tn2Tq6Cn5F

Mar 4, 2021 · 1 like · 1,039 followers View post →
Ander Retolaza
@AnderRetolaza · X

#Depresión: Exploran Nuevos Tratamientos con diferentes Mecanismos de Acción: La #Ezogabina actúa sobre los Canales de Potasio cerebrales y parece mejorar la Anhedonia y otros Síntomas Depresivos. Vía ⁦@SEPsiqLegal⁩ https://t.co/ahaDmJslpY

Apr 20, 2021 · 1 like · 1 share · 699 followers View post →
Alexis Whitton
@AlexisWhitton · X

New therapies for anhedonia also being trialled at @IcahnDAC by @JMurrough's team https://t.co/TIYXDBcKSn

Apr 14, 2021 · 1 like · 575 followers View post →

All mentions

Rikejoy Zhang
@77JoyZhang · X

RT @psychopharmacol: RCT: Although patients with MDD did not show a significant increase in ventral striatum response to reward anticipatio…

Sep 26, 2024 · 1 share · 34 followers View post →
Journals of The American Psychiatric Association
@APAPubJournals · X

“This is an important example of how findings from basic animal models related to transdiagnostic domains such as reward processing and stress can identify promising novel drug targets in psychiatry.” 3/8 https://t.co/lNZQaoj0BJ

Jan 17, 2022 · 11,606 followers View post →
P
@psychopharmacol · X

RCT: Although patients with MDD did not show a significant increase in ventral striatum response to reward anticipation with ezogabine, a KCNQ2/3 positive modulator, vs. placebo at 5 weeks, improvement was observed in the MADRS and SHAPS scores https://t.co/NPzfOn7m3m https://t.co/sEPLpWyZy5

Jun 9, 2021 · 2 likes · 1 share · 569 followers View post →
Journals of The American Psychiatric Association
@APAPubJournals · X

American Journal of Psychiatry Deputy Editor Daniel S. Pine, M.D., provides highlights of the April 2021 issue of the journal Learn More: https://t.co/hTfgr9d8pt

May 11, 2021 · 2 likes · 11,606 followers View post →
Altamiro Bottino
@BottinoAltamiro · X

Researchers identify brain ion channel as new approach to treating depression https://t.co/HucB17K39J https://t.co/CRUQ2WyDCM https://t.co/LQ0Vq43wG2

Apr 26, 2021 · 93 followers View post →
Ander Retolaza
@AnderRetolaza · X

#Depresión: Exploran Nuevos Tratamientos con diferentes Mecanismos de Acción: La #Ezogabina actúa sobre los Canales de Potasio cerebrales y parece mejorar la Anhedonia y otros Síntomas Depresivos. Vía ⁦@SEPsiqLegal⁩ https://t.co/ahaDmJslpY

Apr 20, 2021 · 1 like · 1 share · 699 followers View post →
Alexis Whitton
@AlexisWhitton · X

New therapies for anhedonia also being trialled at @IcahnDAC by @JMurrough's team https://t.co/TIYXDBcKSn

Apr 14, 2021 · 1 like · 575 followers View post →
K.Y
@TheKemi_Y · X

RT @FIP_BPS: #Retigabine/#ezogabine, a drug that opens KCNQ2/3 #PotassiumChannels in the brain, shows promise as novel treatment for #depre…

Mar 23, 2021 · 2 shares · 6,173 followers View post →
Pharmaceutical Science at FIP
@FIP_BPS · X

#Retigabine/#ezogabine, a drug that opens KCNQ2/3 #PotassiumChannels in the brain, shows promise as novel treatment for #depression, according to scientists @IcahnMountSinai, USA. https://t.co/BSSXG4GFwr Read the abstract here: https://t.co/xdxurqaea8

Mar 23, 2021 · 2 shares · 756 followers View post →
Alexis Whitton
@AlexisWhitton · X

RT @UR_IDEA_Lab: New study out of @IcahnDAC provides evidence that Ezogabine, a novel antidepressant targeting neural ion channels, may all…

Mar 15, 2021 · 1 share · 575 followers View post →
Rochester IDEA Lab
@UR_IDEA_Lab · X

New study out of @IcahnDAC provides evidence that Ezogabine, a novel antidepressant targeting neural ion channels, may alleviate depression symptoms and anhedonia by mirroring "stress resilience" in the brain. https://t.co/LlBpXERIzF

Mar 10, 2021 · 1 share · 198 followers View post →
Radical Wolf
@radicalwolf · X

Impact of the KCNQ2/3 Channel Opener Ezogabine on Reward Circuit Activity and Clinical Symptoms in Depression: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial [2021] via /r/Nootropics https://t.co/yEfb3f4SeI

Mar 7, 2021 · 721 followers View post →
NootropicReddit
@NootropicReddit · X

Impact of the KCNQ2/3 Channel Opener Ezogabine on Reward Circuit Activity and Clinical Symptoms in Depression: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial [2021] via /r/Nootropics https://t.co/Kg8jXoqhSX

Mar 6, 2021 · 793 followers View post →
Researching the Brain
@Brain_Database · X

Impact of the KCNQ2/3 Channel Opener Ezogabine on Reward Circuit Activity and Clinical Symptoms in Depression: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial | American Journal of Psychiatry https://t.co/Tn2Tq6Cn5F

Mar 4, 2021 · 1 like · 1,039 followers View post →
Journals of The American Psychiatric Association
@APAPubJournals · X

The first randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of a KCNQ2/3 channel opener on brain & clinical measures linked to depression & anhedonia showed ezogabine treat. was associated w/ significant improvements in clinician & self-report measures. https://t.co/2aPozGOHMG https://t.co/NYMJiZczER

Mar 4, 2021 · 1 like · 11,606 followers View post →
andre
@AndrePGhetti · X

A possible new tool for the treatment of depression. Impact of the KCNQ2/3 Channel Opener Ezogabine on Reward Circuit Activity and Clinical Symptoms in Depression: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial | American Journal of Psychiatry https://t.co/55u2gv8ZWS

Mar 4, 2021 · 71 followers View post →
Ariakas Enoreth
@Aenoreth · X

Impact of the KCNQ2/3 Channel Opener Ezogabine on Reward Circuit Activity and Clinical Symptoms in Depression: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial | American Journal of Psychiatry https://t.co/CwSsYlGdvW

Mar 4, 2021 · 1,015 followers View post →
Fish Babawo - Facebook
Facebook

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050653 breakthrough: Join the SciTechDaily newsletter. #brain #depression #mentalhealth #neuroscience · May be an ...

Dec 21, 2025 View →
Fish Babawo - Facebook
Facebook

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050653 breakthrough: Join the SciTechDaily newsletter. #brain #depression #mentalhealth #neuroscience · Gali būti ...

Dec 21, 2025 View →
Fish - Air pollution, especially from traffic, may raise the risk of ...
Facebook

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050653 breakthrough: Join the SciTechDaily newsletter. #brain #depression #mentalhealth ...

Aug 13, 2025 View →
Fish - Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ...
Facebook

... 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050653 breakthrough: Join the SciTechDaily newsletter. #brain #depression #mentalhealth #neuroscience | Facebook. Log ...

Aug 10, 2025 View →
Mount Sinai Researchers Discover Promising Method to Modulate ...
News

https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050653 · https://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(25)01011-X ...

May 21, 2025 View →
Ezogabine treatment for depression did not meet primary ...
News

Am J Psychiatry. 2021;doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050653. Disclosures: Costi reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the study for ...

Mar 11, 2021 View →
研究人员发现脑离子通道是治疗抑郁症的新途径- 生物通
News

ajp.2020.2 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050653. The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "Researchers identify brain ion ...

Mar 8, 2021 View →
Researchers have identified a drug that works against depression ...
Reddit

... at Mount Sinai, and senior author of the paper. https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050653. [deleted]. • 5y ago.

Mar 6, 2021 View →
Researchers identify brain ion channel as new approach to treating ...
News

2020.2 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050653. Cite This Page: MLA; APA; Chicago. The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai ...

Mar 5, 2021 View →