Treatment Resistant Depression
Dr. Alok Kumar is a psychiatrist practicing in Fairfax, VA. Dr. Kumar is a medical doctor specializing in the care of mental health patients. As a psychiatrist, Dr. Kumar diagnoses and treats mental illnesses. Dr. Kumar may treat patients through a variety of methods including medications, psychotherapy or talk therapy,... more
At NeuroPsych Wellness Center, we believe in utilizing all available treatment options including newer medications and modalities of treatment. That is why we have taken the steps necessary to become a certified Spravato treatment center. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious and life-threatening condition with high rates of individual and society-level morbidity and a chronic disease course. Over 16 million people in the United States and over 300 million people worldwide have depression. Patients with this disorder are often unable to work, maintain relationships, perform self-care, and in the most severe cases may become hospitalized or attempt or commit suicide.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is considered the leading cause of disability worldwide and also is associated with increased mortality rates (at a median rate of 10 years of life lost). About 30 to 40% of patients with MDD fail to respond to first-line treatments including oral antidepressant medications of all classes (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), etc.) and/or psychotherapy. Also, the onset of treatment response for these modalities, even when effective, often takes at least four weeks, leading to greater suffering, expense, and risk.
Scheduling your initial consultation does not guarantee treatment with Spravato if it is not appropriate for you or your condition. You can be referred by your treating psychiatrist and you will continue to follow-up with them while receiving treatment on Spravato at our center. We encourage you to call your insurance to see if this medication is covered under your current plan. If you feel that Spravato is a good option for you, then call our office or fill out the new evaluation form on our contact page. Please Indicate in the comment section that you are interested in Spravato.
Spravato (esketamine) is the S-enantiomer of racemic ketamine, and is a non-selective, non-competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, an ionotropic glutamate receptor. The mechanism by which esketamine exerts its antidepressant effect is unknown. For the first month, your Spravato treatment is twice weekly for 30 days, then once weekly for 30 days; thereafter it’s once weekly or every two (2) weeks. Your treatment plan will be individualized.
