Application of Intranasal Esketamine (Spravato®) in Clinical Practice – Interview Highlights with Prof Ian Hickie and A/Prof Liz Scott
In this month’s GP Mental Health Bites, we feature highlights from an interview with Assoc Prof Liz Scott and Prof Ian Hickie, who share their experience of the use of intranasal esketamine in clinical practice, including practical information on, patient selection, efficacy in the clinical setting and safety and tolerability.
Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth Scott has expertise in youth mood disorders, service developments for youth mental health, and sleep and circadian dysfunction. Until January 2021, she was the Medical Director of U-Space inpatient youth mental health services at St. Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney, and she is currently a Principal Research Fellow at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, NSW.
Prof Ian Hickie is a Professor of Psychiatry and the Co-Director of Health and Policy at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, NSW. He has led major public health and health service developments in Australia, particularly focusing on early intervention for young people with depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviours and complex mood disorders.
Studies show that only 30-40% of patients experience some remission of depressive symptoms after taking antidepressants. Approximately a third don’t respond to antidepressant treatments at all. Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is associated with poor social functioning, medical co-morbidity and increased mortality. The burden of TRD makes it essential to try to find strategies that can relieve patients and aid their functional recovery.
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