RecruitingPhase 1

Neuropharmacologic Imaging and Biomarker Assessments of Response to Acute and Repeated-Dosed Ketamine Infusions in Major Depressive Disorder

United States150 participantsStarted 2017-05-25

Plain-language summary

Background: Most medications that treat depression take weeks or months to work. Researchers want to develop fast-acting treatments. One dose of ketamine has a rapid antidepressant effect. For most people, this lasts a week or less. Repeated doses of ketamine may help maintain this effect. Objective: Main Study: To study the effects of ketamine in treating depression. Ketamine Metabolites Substudy: To study how ketamine effects brain chemistry. To study how ketamine effects the brain. This is done by looking at metabolites, which are created when a drug is broken down. Eligibility: Main Study: People ages 18-65 with major depressive disorder and healthy volunteers Ketamine Metabolites Substudy: Healthy volunteers ages 18-65 Design: Main Study: Participants will be screened in another study, with: * Medical and psychiatric history * Psychiatric and physical exam * Blood, urine, and heart tests Participants will be inpatients at NIH for 4 phases totaling 14-20 weeks. Phase I (2-7 weeks): * Gradually stop current medications * MRI: Participants lie and perform tasks in a machine that takes pictures of the body. * Mood and thinking tests * Blood and urine tests * Sleep test: Monitors on the skin record brain waves, breathing, heart rate, and movement during sleep. * Transcranial magnetic stimulation: A coil on the scalp gives an electrical current that affects brain activity. * Stress tests: Electrodes on the skin measure reactions to loud noises or electric shocks. Phase I tests are repeated in Phases II and III and in the final visit. Phase II (4-5 weeks): * 4 weekly IV infusions of ketamine or a placebo during an MRI or MEG. For the MEG, a cone over the head records brain activity. Phase III (optional): * 8 infusions of ketamine over 4 weeks Phase IV (optional): * Symptoms monitoring for 4 weeks * Participants will have a final visit. They will be offered standard treatment at NIH for up to 2 months. Ketamine Metabolites Substudy: Participants will be screened in another study, with: * Medical and psychiatric history * Psychiatric and physical exam * Blood, urine, and heart tests Participants will be inpatients at NIH for 4 days. Study Procedures: Mood and thinking tests Blood and urine tests 1 infusion of ketamine Spinal tap and spinal catheter: Used to get samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This is a fluid that moves around and within the brain and spinal cord. Studying CSF will help us learn how ketamine effects brain chemistry

Who can participate

Age range18 Years – 65 Years

SexALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

✓. 18 to 65 years of age.
✓. Each subject must have a level of understanding sufficient to agree to all required tests and examinations and sign an informed consent document.
✓. All subjects must have undergone a screening assessment under either protocol 01-M-0254, "The Evaluation of Patients with Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Healthy Volunteers" or protocol 17-M-0181 ("Recruitment and Characterization of Research Volunteers for NIMH Intramural Studies").
✓. Agree to be hospitalized
✓. At the initial study enrollment, subjects must have fulfilled DSM-IV or DSM-5 criteria for Major Depression, single episode or recurrent. Subjects must be experiencing a current major depressive episode of at least 2 weeks duration.
✓. At the initial screening and beginning of Phases II and III, subjects must have a baseline score on the MADRS \>= 20 and YMRS of \< 12.
✓. Current or past history of lack of response to one adequate antidepressant trial, operationally defined using the Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF); a failed adequate trial of ECT would count as an adequate antidepressant trial.
✓. 18 to 65 years of age.

Exclusion criteria

What they're measuring

To demonstrate more robust neuropharmacodynamic effects measured by neuropharmacodynamic imaging (fMRI+EEG and MEG) of ketamine 0.5 mg/kg as compared to placebo administered over 40 minutes.

Timeframe: Multiple

Ketamine Metabolites Substudy: To determine if ketamine metabolites cross the blood brain barrier and enter the brain during ketamine IV administration.

Timeframe: Multiple

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03065335

SponsorNational Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Sponsor typeNIH

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-01-01

Contact for this trial

Laura R Waldman, L.C.S.W.

(877) 646-3644 moodresearch@mail.nih.gov

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Healthy Volunteer trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range18 Years – 65 Years

SexALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

✓. 18 to 65 years of age.
✓. Each subject must have a level of understanding sufficient to agree to all required tests and examinations and sign an informed consent document.
✓. All subjects must have undergone a screening assessment under either protocol 01-M-0254, "The Evaluation of Patients with Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Healthy Volunteers" or protocol 17-M-0181 ("Recruitment and Characterization of Research Volunteers for NIMH Intramural Studies").
✓. Agree to be hospitalized
✓. At the initial study enrollment, subjects must have fulfilled DSM-IV or DSM-5 criteria for Major Depression, single episode or recurrent. Subjects must be experiencing a current major depressive episode of at least 2 weeks duration.
✓. At the initial screening and beginning of Phases II and III, subjects must have a baseline score on the MADRS \>= 20 and YMRS of \< 12.
✓. Current or past history of lack of response to one adequate antidepressant trial, operationally defined using the Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF); a failed adequate trial of ECT would count as an adequate antidepressant trial.
✓. 18 to 65 years of age.

Exclusion criteria

What they're measuring

To demonstrate more robust neuropharmacodynamic effects measured by neuropharmacodynamic imaging (fMRI+EEG and MEG) of ketamine 0.5 mg/kg as compared to placebo administered over 40 minutes.

Timeframe: Multiple

Ketamine Metabolites Substudy: To determine if ketamine metabolites cross the blood brain barrier and enter the brain during ketamine IV administration.

Timeframe: Multiple