Low-Dose Intravenous Ketamine for Adolescents With Depression and Suicidal Ideation in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

This study will be a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Study investigators and trained research assistants (RAs) will identify eligible participants from the electronic ED tracking board based on inclusion criteria, and will confirm eligibility with the treating physician. After a patient has been evaluated by nursing, physician, and social worker and has been determined to require inpatient psychiatric admission, the patient and parent/guardian will be approached for the study. A parent/guardian must be available in person or by phone to provide consent, and the adolescent will provide assent. The RA or investigator will collect demographic data and psychiatric history from the electronic medical record to verify eligibility criteria, and will confirm with the treating physician that the patient can participate in the study. The RA or investigator will provide the patient self-administered scales, including the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire and the Beck Depression, Anxiety, and Self-Concept Scales.

After the patient has assented and parent/guardian has consented to participation in the study, a study physician will initiate the electronic study order set. The Investigational Drug Service Pharmacy at RCHSD will dispense either ketamine 0.2 mg/kg (minimum 10 mg, maximum 20 mg) or normal saline in the same volume in identically-appearing syringe, based upon a pre-determined randomization scheme kept only in the pharmacy. The study will be blinded to ordering and treating providers, as well as the RA and nurse. The investigators will use an online randomization tool, and randomization will be even between the two groups. S An ED nurse will place an IV catheter if the patient does not already have one, and will record heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation immediately before the infusion and 5 minutes after. The medication will be given over 2 minutes by a nurse, who will remain in the room for 5 minutes after infusion. The patient will remain on pulse oximeter for 30 minutes. The RA or study investigator will administer a post-infusion survey to document any adverse effects and will record pre- and post-infusion vital signs 5 minutes after infusion. The IV catheter will then be removed unless required for another clinical indication as determined by the treating physician. After the 30 minute monitoring period, the patient will resume standard ED care and can be transferred to the psychiatric ED or CAPS whenever the bed is available. The RA or investigator will administer follow up depression and SI scales after 1 hour, 3 hours, 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days either in the psychiatric ED or CAPS, or by telephone if the patient has been discharged.