• Fang-Bo Lin, De-Ren Hou, and Qiu-Ping Tang.
• Department of Neurology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China. E-mail: 1183648014@qq.com.
• Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2016 Apr 20; 37 (4): 567-inside back cover.

ObjectiveThe pathogenesis and etiology of still remain unknown. Current evidence suggests that the occurrence of depression may be related to a reduced secretion of neurotransmitters, neuronal apoptosis, inflammation, intestinal flora and other factors. Although the commonly used antidepressants such as SSRIs, SNRIs, NaSSA, and SARIs produce some therapeutic effects, they fail to relieve the full spectrum of the symptoms of depression. In recent years, esketamine was found to produce a potent and a long-lasting antidepressant effect by acting on the NMDA receptors. Herein the authors review the progress in the study of the pathogenesis and drug therapies of depression, the efficacy of esketamine treatment and the underlying mechanism, and the prospect of esketamine treatment. Currently the mechanism of the antidepressant effect of esketamine remains indeterminate and its clinical application is limited, but its effect in rapidly alleviating the symptoms of depression suggests its bright prospect for clinical applications.

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