AUTHOR=Shi Zhan-Ming , Huang Xing-Bing , Zhou Yan-Ling , Ning Yu-Ping , Ungvari Gabor S. , Xiang Yu-Tao , Zheng Wei 

TITLE=Rapid treatment center for depression in China: constructive reflections and transnational implications

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1582312

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1582312

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Enhancing the early diagnosis and standardized treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), as advocated by the National Health Commission of China, is a key priority in the mental health initiatives of the nation. To achieve this, numerous evidence-based rapid treatment centers for MDD have been established or are currently under development across the country. These centers focus on the following primary treatment modalities for depression: electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), intravenous ketamine/esketamine, esketamine nasal spray, magnetic seizure therapy (MST), and Stanford Neuromodulation Therapy (SNT). This policy and practice review explored the application and modification of these techniques in treating depression in China, addressing their strengths and shortcomings. With particular focus on China’s rapid antidepressant treatment strategies (e.g., ECT, intravenous ketamine/esketamine, esketamine nasal spray, MST, SNT), the current policy and practice review described their potential to speed up recovery thereby providing valuable insights for other countries and regions.