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. 2024 Feb 19:15:1334293.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1334293. eCollection 2024.

Anhedonia and depression severity measures during ketamine administration in treatment-resistant depression

Aleksander Kwaśny  1 , Wiesław Jerzy Cubała  1 , Adam Włodarczyk  1
Affiliations

Anhedonia and depression severity measures during ketamine administration in treatment-resistant depression

Aleksander Kwaśny et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Anhedonia is a core symptom of depression characterized by a diminished ability to experience pleasure. Currently available treatments for depression often fall short in adequately addressing anhedonia that often presents as a chronic and debilitating symptom. Ketamine is known to possess antianhedonic properties.

Methods: This post-hoc analysis of a naturalistic observational study of treatment-resistant depression inpatients (n=28) analyzed antianhedonic response patterns measured by Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale and changes in Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology in responders (n=6) and non-responders (n=22) stratified per Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale during short-term ketamine treatment.

Results: Results show that responders significantly improve in anhedonia over time (p=0.0084) and at the 7th infusion and follow-up (both p<0.05). Non-responders reported significant reduction in anhedonia over time (p=0.0011) and at the 5th, 7th infusion and at the follow-up (all p's<0.05). Non-responders were also observed to improve significantly in self-reported depression at the 7th infusion (p=0.0219) but not at the follow-up.

Discussion: There is no complete overlap between change in depressive symptoms and anhedonia. Therefore, it might be assumed ketamine alleviates anhedonia as an individual symptom domain regardless of formal treatment outcome.

Keywords: anhedonia; depression; ketamine; major depressive disorder; treatment-resistant depression.

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Conflict of interest statement

AK has received research support from GH Research, MSD, Novartis. AW has received research support: KCR, Janssen, Otsuka, Apodemus, Novartis, Cortexyme, GH Research and Acadia. WJC has received grants from Acadia, Angelini, Celon, Cortexyme, GH Research, HMNC Brain Health, IntraCellular Therapies, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Otsuka; he has received honoraria from Angelini, Celon, Janssen, Novartis, Sanofi; he serves on advisory boards in Angelini, Celon terminated, Douglas Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Sanofi.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
IDS-SR 30 changes from baseline to follow-up in responders and non-responders. Statistical significance defined as p<0.05 is marked with asterisk (*). Error bars indicate standard deviation. “Pre-infusion” means data were collected before the infusion, e.g., “pre-infusion 3” means measurements were performed at the day of third infusion, before the intervention.
Figure 2
Figure 2
SHAPS changes from baseline to follow-up in responders and non-responders. Statistical significance defined as p<0.05 is marked with asterisk (*). Error bars indicate standard deviation. “Pre-infusion” means data were collected before the infusion, e.g., “pre-infusion 3” means measurements were performed at the day of third infusion, before the intervention.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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