This study will explore the effects of esketamine (Spravato®), an FDA-approved nasal spray, on adults diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). All participants will receive esketamine as prescribed by a healthcare professional in a clinical setting.
The purpose of this research is to understand whether adding therapeutic support in the form of preparation and integration sessions - before and after the esketamine doses - can enhance the treatment experience and lead to longer-lasting improvements in mood and functioning.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:
Esketamine with therapeutic support sessions (integration group) Esketamine without additional support (standard care group) Both groups will receive standard monitoring and psychiatric evaluation during the study. The support sessions offered in the integration group are designed to help participants prepare for their treatment sessions and make sense of their experiences afterward, using a structured, evidence-based approach.
The study will last approximately 8 weeks per participant, with follow-up assessments. The goal is to learn whether integration therapy can improve treatment outcomes, safety, and satisfaction for individuals with depression that hasn't responded to other treatments.