Almost All Americans Believe Mental Health Issues are Handled Worse than Physical Health Issues

In past trials, ketamine intravenous treatment has shown promise, with 64% of depression patients in trials experiencing major symptom relief.

CMS has balked at covering vagus nerve stimulation for treatment-resistant depression. Positive results from an industry-sponsored randomized trial could break the logjam, although it may be several years before results are reported.

Psilocybin-assisted therapy, which involves using the active ingredient from "magic mushrooms," could benefit roughly 5 million people currently receiving treatment for major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression if the FDA approves it.

The drug has shown strong results in phase 3 clinical trials, which are the basis for the new application to the FDA.

Identifying what is truly treatment resistant depression is difficult given all the factors that may influence how a person responds to treatment.

In contrast to electroconvulsive therapy, patients are not sedated during the treatments. Studies of a protocol called accelerated intermittent theta-burst stimulation have produced positive results.