Immunotherapy may offer a completely new way to treat people with difficult-to-treat depression, according to a University of Bristol-led clinical trial published in JAMA Psychiatry on May 20.
In the small pilot study, researchers tested whether tocilizumab, a drug commonly prescribed for inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, could ease depression symptoms in patients who had not improved with standard antidepressants.
Although the trial included only 30 participants with moderate-to-severe depression, the findings suggest the drug may help reduce depression severity, anxiety, and fatigue while improving quality of life.
Scientists Investigate Inflammation's Role in Depression
Most current antidepressants work by targeting brain chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. However, roughly one-third of people with depression do not respond well to these medications.
