Comparative Effects of Repeated Ketamine Infusion Versus Intranasal Esketamine in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression

Objective: Both intravenous (IV) racemic ketamine and intranasal (IN) esketamine have emerged as rapid-acting antidepressants for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and are increasingly used in clinical settings. Relatively few studies, however, have compared these interventions in larger, naturalistic cohorts. This study was conducted to assess the comparative efficacy and rapidity of response observed with repeated IV ketamine versus IN esketamine in a psychiatric neurotherapeutics specialty service. Through retrospective chart review, we conducted what is, to the best of our knowledge, among the larger such comparisons to date.