MedPath

The Effect of Ketamine on Aesthetics and Role for Antidepressant Effects

Phase 1
Recruiting
Conditions
Major Depressive Disorder
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT05320107
Lead Sponsor
Medical University of Vienna
Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of ketamine on aesthetic perception and processing. This study assesses the role of these effects in facilitating ketamine's antidepressant properties, with a focus on anhedonia. To address this aim, 25 patients with major depressive disorder and 35 healthy controls will be assessed twice with magnetic resonance imaging, once after administration of intravenous ketamine (subanesthetic dose) and once after administration of placebo.This study has a single-center, placebo-controlled, cross-over study design. During MRI, structural, resting state, and functional imaging will be performed. Functional imaging will comprise aesthetic processing, reward, and sexual arousal paradigms. In addition, various neuropsychological scales assessing depressive symptoms, anhedonia, and aesthetic processing will be performed. Eligibility for participation will be assessed during a screening visit, a follow up visit will end study participation.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • General health based on medical history and physical examination
  • Psychiatric health based on structured clinical interview for DSM-5 (SCID) for healthy controls
  • Major depressive episode (first or recurrent) based on structured clinical interview for DSM-5 and ICD-10 for patients
  • Age 18 to 55 years
  • Right-handedness (due to potential lateralization effects of lefthanded subjects)
  • Willingness and competence to sign the informed consent form
Exclusion Criteria
  • Current or history of neurological disease
  • Current medical illness requiring treatment
  • Psychiatric diagnosis for healthy individuals
  • Psychiatric comorbidity with the exception of anxiety disorders for depressed individuals
  • Pregnancy or current breastfeeding
  • Current or former substance abuse
  • Previous ketamine use in lifetime
  • Any contraindication for MRI (e.g., MR incompatible implants, etc.) including dental implants causing signal artifacts
  • Failure to comply with the study protocol or to follow the instruction of the investigating team

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Placebo frist, then ketaminePlacebo0.9% NaCl, then ketamine
Ketamine first, then placeboKetamine0.5mg/kg bodyweight (or 0.25mg/kg bodyweight) ketamine, will be determined in pilot study, then placebo
Ketamine first, then placeboPlacebo0.5mg/kg bodyweight (or 0.25mg/kg bodyweight) ketamine, will be determined in pilot study, then placebo
Placebo frist, then ketamineKetamine0.9% NaCl, then ketamine
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
BOLD signal assessed with fMRI during sexual arousal paradigmChange from baseline to up to 4 weeks

Difference in Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) signal assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) between ketamine and placebo condition during a sexual arousal paradigm

BOLD signal assessed with fMRI during aesthetic paradigmChange from baseline to up to 4 weeks

Difference in Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) signal assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) between ketamine and placebo condition during an aesthetic processing task

BOLD signal assessed with fMRI during resting stateChange from baseline to up to 4 weeks

Difference in Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) signal assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) between ketamine and placebo condition during resting state

BOLD signal assessed with fMRI during reward paradigmChange from baseline to up to 4 weeks

Difference in Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) signal assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) between ketamine and placebo condition during a reward processing task

Levels of pleasantness assessed during aesthetic fMRI taskChange from baseline to up to 4 weeks

Level of pleasantness (Numbered scale) of aesthetic stimuli during aesthetic paradigm task

Number of of chills assessed during aesthetic fMRI taskChange from baseline to up to 4 weeks

Number of chills in response to aesthetic stimuli during aesthetic paradigm task

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Medical University of Vienna

🇦🇹

Vienna, Austria

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath