Efficacy and Safety of Intranasal Esketamine Adjunctive to Oral Antidepressant Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and disabling illness, with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 20% in the United States.^1,2 Major depressive disorder impairs socio-occupational functioning³ and increases suicide risk,⁴ adverse sequelae of other common comorbid medical conditions (eg, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity), and mortality.^5-9 Limitations of currently available antidepressant therapies include delayed onset of efficacy and low remission rates after multiple courses of pharmacotherapy.¹⁰