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Clinical Trials/NCT04021433
NCT04021433UnknownNot Applicable

Ketamine for Treatment Resistant Depression - A Long Term Feasibility Study

Hadassah Medical Organization1 site in 1 country20 target enrollmentStarted: September 1, 2018Last updated:
Conditions
Interventions
Drugs

Trial Snapshot

Phase
Not Applicable
Enrollment
20
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
MADRS

Study Overview

Brief Summary

This study aims to openly test the long-term safety, tolerability and effectiveness of repeated administration of IM/SC ketamine for treatment resistant MDD.

Detailed Description

Major depression disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disorders with considerable impact on patients' quality of life, social and occupational function. MDD also significantly increase suicide rate. About a third of the patients with MDD suffer from moderate to severe symptoms that are fully or partially unresponsive to accepted pharmaco and / or psycho therapy. Ketamine is a widely used anesthetic. Multiple studies done over the recent years had shown its therapeutic effects in resistant depressive patients. Unlike regular antidepressants, ketamine exerts its effect within hours to few days which implies an alternative mechanism of action not fully studied. So far, there are only few reports on using repeated ketamine administration to maintain the antidepressant effect or on intra-muscular or sub-cutaneous application that can be safer and more tolerable than the intravenous route.

In the present study, the investigators aim to openly assess the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of repeated, individually tailored IM or SC ketamine for treatment resistant major depression. The investigators intend to explore questions regarding optimal dose, treatment frequency and duration. The investigators will also assess potential cognitive effects of long-term ketamine treatment and look for possible treatment outcome predictors using the Neurotrax computerized cognitive battery.

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Na
Intervention Model
Single Group
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Diagnosed with unipolar/bipolar depression with MADRS Score>= 20
  • Inadequate response to >= 3 adequate treatment trials [>=2 trials in the present episode]
  • If on psychopharmacological Tx, it should be stable since 4 weeks prior to enrollment

Exclusion Criteria

  • Hypersensitivity to ketamine
  • Other major psychiatric diagnosis
  • High suicidality
  • Unstable physical illness
  • S/P CVA / brain SOL
  • Pregnant or breast feeding women
  • Illicit drug/alcohol abuse during last year
  • History of ketamine abuse

Arms & Interventions

MDD

Experimental

Treatment resistant patients will be treated with multiple doses of IM/SC ketamine [dose range 0.3-1.5mg/kg]

Intervention: Ketamine (Drug)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

MADRS

Time Frame: 1 month into treatment through study completion

The change in the MDRS score at 1 month (5weeks evaluation) for the acute phase and at 6 months or end of study (for the maintenance phase) compared to baseline

Secondary Outcomes

  • Average time in remission(along 6 months)
  • MADRS(3 months into treatment)
  • QIDS-SR, Clinical Global Impressions - Improvement(along 6 months)
  • NeuroTrax computerized cognitive battery(along 6 months)

Investigators

Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Sponsor

Study Sites (1)

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