Transforming depression treatment
Current research at our BMO Innovative Clinic for Depression is aiming to discover new treatments to help people with depression. With a current focus on ketamine, the clinic is seeing results in patients that have the potential to dramatically change the standards for treatment of this challenging condition, including de-escalating suicidal thoughts for patients in crisis.
How it works
Ketamine is a novel treatment option that offers a rapid impact on depressive symptoms and suicidality and increased effectiveness compared to traditional antidepressant medication.
Patients undergoing treatment in our program have not responded to standard treatments for depression due to major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. We provide specialized access to ketamine administered through a nasal spray (esketamine) or intravenous infusion (IV ketamine). Our research tests ketamine's real-world clinical effectiveness in eliciting rapid and sustained decrease in depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. These treatments are offered in the context of a fully integrated clinical service and through clinical trials, linking research and care, and connecting more broadly with existing services and treatment options available at The Royal.
Greater outcomes through research
The esketamine service was launched at The Royal in 2021 and received an important funding boost in 2023 thanks to a $2 million donation from BMO to increase the clinic's capacity and expand research into the treatment's effectiveness and predictors of patient response to treatment. Data from our first three years reveals a significant decrease in depressive symptoms in patients who receive treatment with esketamine. Overall, about half of our patients have had at least partial response to treatment, and more than three quarters experienced a decrease in their suicidal thoughts with esketamine treatment.
Our results support the use of ketamine as an important treatment option for individuals with difficult-to-treat depression in Canada. We are hopeful that our advocacy efforts will help clarify the complexities surrounding ketamine treatment and ultimately improve access for Canadians facing these challenges.
Support research
Donations are essential to the advancement of mental health research and the discovery of new, more impactful treatments for mental illness.
