This parallel assignment interventional trial (n=34 planned; 1 enrolled per registry) assesses whether pre‑treatment presentation and a post‑treatment follow-up improve expectation and response to esketamine for depressive episodes.
The study tests whether a positive presentation before the first esketamine treatment improves patients' expectation of improvement within 24 hours after the first treatment.
A second aim is to determine whether a post‑treatment follow‑up session providing encouragement and reassurance improves expectation and clinical response (MADRS) within 24 hours and by the end of the acute esketamine course.
Parallel design comparing TAU versus pre‑/post‑treatment presentations plus TAU; outcome assessors collecting MADRS are masked (single‑blind).
Participants receive treatment as usual (TAU)
Presentation prior to first esketamine treatment plus a follow-up session within 24 hours, in addition to TAU
Short presentation within 72 hours prior to first treatment emphasising effectiveness and encouragement; one follow-up session within 24 hours post-first treatment to provide encouragement and reassurance (delivered alongside TAU).