About The Course
This on-demand course, led by Professor David Barton, provides an in-depth exploration of esketamine for treatment-resistant depression. It covers patient selection, PBS funding, and practical administration protocols, alongside neurobiological mechanisms. The course is designed for general practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, and allied health professionals seeking evidence-based insights into this emerging psychiatric treatment.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is suitable for:
- Psychiatrists
- General Practitioners (GPs)
- Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (MHNPs)
- Psychologists
- Mental health professionals
- Clinicians working in or expanding into psychiatry and mental health care
Accreditation Information:
- Psychiatry Accreditation: This course is available for self-accreditation with the RANZCP and other relevant psychiatric and mental health organisations.
- GP Accreditation: This course is available for self-accreditation with RACGP for general practitioners.
What You'll Learn
- An overview of the burden of TRD
- The evidence for the effectiveness of intranasal esketamine in the management of TRD
- Understanding which patients are appropriate for treatment with esketamine and who may not be a good candidate
- How intranasal esketamine is supplied and administered in clinical practice
- Maintenance therapy and duration of treatment
Course Programme
6 Units | 22 Modules | 1.5 Hours total length
- Definition of Treatment-Resistant Depression
- STAR*D Trial Findings
- Prevalence and Clinical Challenges
- Current Antidepressant Treatment Approaches
- Limitations of Existing Treatments
- Need for Alternative Interventions
- Neurobiological Mechanism
- NMDA Receptors and Glutamate
- Clinical Trial Evidence
- Real-World Study Results
- Inclusion Criteria
- Contraindications
- Patient Screening
- Comorbidity Management
- Dosing Strategies
- Administration Protocol
- Monitoring and Safety
- Side Effect Management
- Maintenance Treatment Approach
- PBS Funding and Treatment Continuation
- Long-Term Efficacy
- Relapse Prevention Strategies
Course Description
Intranasal Esketamine in the Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression
Esketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression is transforming how clinicians approach complex mood disorders and redefining treatment pathways in modern psychiatry. In this on-demand course, Professor David Barton shares a structured, evidence-based guide to implementing esketamine in clinical settings. Tailored for psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, general practitioners, and allied health professionals, this course delivers practical insights into managing complex depression cases.
Understanding TRD and the Need for Innovation
The course begins by examining treatment-resistant depression (TRD)—its definition, prevalence, and why many antidepressants fail to achieve remission. Using STAR*D trial findings and clinical experience, Professor Barton outlines the urgent need for advanced depression interventions like esketamine. This section highlights the limitations of existing treatments and the clinical burden of TRD.
Mechanism, Evidence, and Patient Selection
Participants explore how esketamine for treatment-resistant depression works through NMDA receptor modulation and its impact on neuroplasticity. Evidence from clinical trials and real-world studies supports its efficacy. Modules also focus on identifying appropriate candidates, managing comorbidities, and recognising contraindications—key steps in treatment-resistant depression management.
Clinical Implementation and Long-Term Planning
Professor Barton provides a practical roadmap for esketamine use, covering dosing, monitoring, side effect management, and safety. Participants also examine PBS funding, maintenance therapy, and relapse prevention. These insights enable clinicians to confidently integrate advanced depression interventions into long-term care plans.
What You Will Learn
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the scope and burden of treatment-resistant depression
- Evaluate the evidence supporting esketamine for treatment-resistant depression
- Identify appropriate candidates and contraindications for therapy
- Apply safe protocols for administration and monitoring
- Design long-term care strategies for treatment-resistant depression management
Advance your clinical knowledge and deliver better outcomes—enrol today to explore the future of treatment-resistant depression management.
While our Academy members enjoy exclusive access to a range of courses and webinars (including this course) with their annual membership, we’re pleased to offer you the opportunity to purchase it individually! Click here – Intranasal Esketamine in the Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression.
‘Intranasal Esketamine in the Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression’ with Professor David Barton is available in both video and audio format. Participants will receive a completion certificate and 1.5 CPD hours upon completion.
This course equips clinicians with evidence and practical protocols for treatment‑resistant depression management, including patient selection, PBS funding, esketamine administration, monitoring strategies, and key clinical trial outcomes.
Course Information
- 1.5 hours
- 1.5 CPD
Inclusions
- 1.5 Hours of Video Lecture
- Course Completion Certificate
Material Downloads
- certificate
Instructors
Professor David Barton Guest Speaker - MBBS FRANZCP PhD
Prof David Barton is the founding director of NeuroCentrix, providing care focused on treatment-resistant depression, brain injury and early dementia. For treatment-resistant depression, he offers TMS and Esketamine treatment in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania. David’s subspecialty is in old-age psychiatry, neuropsychiatry(acquired brain injury) and treatment-resistant mood disorders. He has an extensive background in academia with research areas into ketamine, depression and cardiovascular disease funded through NHMRC grants.
Prof Barton’s other roles include: Director of mental health services at South Eastern Private Hospital, Consultation Liaison Psychiatrist with the Acquired Brain Injury Unit at Caulfield Hospital, Adjunct Professor at the Australian Centre for Heart Health, Senior Research Scientist at the BakerIDI Heart and Diabetes Institute’s Human Neurotransmitter Laboratory, and Honorary Principal Fellow at the University of Melbourne.
Dr. Sanil Rege Host - MBBS, MRCPsych, FRANZCP
With extensive teaching experience through psychiatry education initiatives, Sanil is recognized as a motivational training facilitator and educator who promotes insightful collaboration and discussion
As the Academic Lead of Psych Scene and Chief Editor of Psych Scene Hub, he aspires to make a difference in mental health by empowering Healthcare Professionals to advance their skills and career through the provision of specialised education and training
Sanil is also the founder of Vita Healthcare, a private clinic in Mount Eliza specialising in adult mental healthcare, with over 20 years of clinical experience and 13 years of private practice experience treating disorders across the spectrum. He currently works in the community, across inpatient, consultation-liaison and addiction psychiatry spaces.
