WARSAW— Depression is the most common form of mental illness in the United States.

Jeanette Cochran. Photo provided by Parkview Center for Healthy Living.

One in three patients suffers from treatment-resistant depression (TRD), which is depression that doesn’t improve after the administration of at least two different antidepressant therapies. A new drug called esketamine, approved by the FDA in March is showing great promise in patients with TRD, said a news release from Parkview Behavioral Health.

Jeanette Cochran, MSN, NP-C, Parkview Behavioral Health, will be providing a free presentation on this new alternative for depression on Tuesday, Nov. 26, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Parkview Warsaw Center for Healthy Living.

Cochran’s discussion will highlight the symptoms of depression and what types of medication and therapies are available. Seating is limited, and reservations are highly encouraged.

“Clinical depression is becoming increasingly common and is defined as a tsunami of emotional, physical and cognitive symptoms that affect every aspect of a person’s life,” said Cochran.

Esketamine targets different brain receptors than traditional medications and is administered with an intranasal spray in a doctor’s office. While not a cure-all, esketamine has been shown to act rapidly –  within a couple of hours – in approximately half patients with TRD.

“Emotionally, a person can feel persistent sadness, lack of enjoyment or experience unprovoked crying episodes. Cognitively, a person can feel ‘foggy’ and have trouble concentrating and taking in information,” Cochran said.

Physically, a person can experience fatigue, ache, and the inability to sleep, according to Cochran.

“This ‘terrible triad’ makes it difficult for patients to function and we want people to know that there are new treatments on the horizon,” said Cochran.

The Center for Healthy Living is located at 1305 Mariners Drive, Warsaw, inside the Parkview Warsaw YMCA. To reserve your seat at the presentation, please call (260) 266-6500 or (844) 835-0003.