Repeated Ketamine Infusions for Comorbid PTSD and MDD in Veterans

NCT ID: NCT04032301

Last Updated: 2025-06-27

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE1
• Total Enrollment: 67 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-09-30
• Study Completion Date: 2024-11-10

Brief Summary

Co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common response to trauma; it is associated with poor clinical outcomes and substantial human disability. Veterans with both PTSD and MDD (PTSD+MDD) have been shown to be at much greater suicidal risk than individuals with only one of these disorders. Ketamine given as repeated infusions has been shown to be effective in rapidly reducing PTSD and MDD symptoms in treatment resistant PTSD+MDD individuals. However, knowledge about the mechanisms underlying comorbid PTSD and MDD remain limited. The purpose of this study is to use repeated ketamine infusions as a probe to validate a model of PTSD+MDD that focuses on neuroanatomy and executive functioning.

Detailed Description

This study is designed to better characterize the neurocognitive and associated functional connectivity mechanisms underlying comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) among veterans. Participants will be male/female veterans (18 to 75 years old) of any era or military background who suffer from chronic PTSD and MDD. Potential participants will be recruited from mental health clinics and screened for eligibility using a two stage process (phone/chart review, followed by interview). Participants with PTSD+MDD will undergo a series of baseline assessments including a baseline functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) then be randomized to receive either 6 ketamine or 6 normal saline infusions on a Monday-Friday schedule over 3 weeks. On the day of infusion, participants will be required to stay at the clinical site for 2 hours after the infusion has been given. They will also be monitored via a phone call on the following day. After the infusion period has been completed participants will undergo a follow-up fMRI then 4 follow-up visits, up to 2 months. Additional participants will be enrolled in healthy control, depression only, and PTSD only groups and will only undergo baseline assessments, including a single fMRI.

Conditions

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders; Major Depressive Disorder

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Intravenous ketamine infusions

Six infusions of 0.5 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride solution over 3 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Ketamine

Intervention Type: DRUG

Six infusions of intravenous 0.5 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride solution over 3 weeks.

Intravenous saline infusions

Six infusions of normal saline solution over 3 weeks.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Normal Saline

Intervention Type: OTHER

Six infusions of intravenous normal saline solution over 3 weeks.

Interventions

Ketamine

Six infusions of intravenous 0.5 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride solution over 3 weeks.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Normal Saline

Six infusions of intravenous normal saline solution over 3 weeks.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Ketamine Hydrochloride; Sodium Chloride in Water

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Female/Male veterans

2. 18 to 75 years old

3. Meets DSM-5 criteria for MDD, single or recurrent, moderate-severe without psychotic features

4. Meets DSM-5 criteria for chronic PTSD or subthreshold PTSD [meets criterion A (traumatic event), criterion B (intrusion symptoms), and 2 of the following 3 criteria: C (avoidance symptoms), D (negative alterations in cognitions and mood), or E (marked alterations in arousal and reactivity)]

5. If applicable, 6 weeks of stable antidepressants/augmenting agents

6. Sixth grade reading level

7. Ability to provide consent

1. Female/Male veterans

2. 18 to 75 years old

3. Does not meet DSM-5 criteria for MDD, single or recurrent, moderate-severe without psychotic features

4. Does not meet DSM-5 criteria for chronic PTSD or subthreshold PTSD

5. Not on medications for managing a psychiatric indication

6. Sixth grade reading level

7. Ability to provide consent

1. Female/Male veterans

2. 18 to 75 years old

3. Experienced a traumatic event that meets DSM-5 criterion A for a diagnosis of PTSD but does not meet sufficient criteria (B-E) necessary for a diagnosis of PTSD or subthreshold PTSD

4. Meets criteria for MDD, single or recurrent, moderate-severe

5. If applicable, 6 weeks of stable antidepressants/augmenting agents

6. Sixth grade reading level

7. Ability to provide consent

1. Female/Male veterans

2. 18 to 75 years old

3. Meets DSM-5 criteria for chronic PTSD or subthreshold PTSD [meets criterion A (traumatic event), criterion B (intrusion symptoms), and 2 of the following 3 criteria: C (avoidance symptoms), D (negative alterations in cognitions and mood), or E (marked alterations in arousal and reactivity)]

4. Does not meet DSM-5 criteria for MDD, single or recurrent, moderate-severe without psychotic features

5. If applicable, 6 weeks of stable antidepressants/augmenting agents

6. Sixth grade reading level

7. Ability to provide consent

Exclusion Criteria

1. Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent

2. Moderate/severe cognitive impairment

3. Current or lifetime diagnosis of psychosis-related disorder, bipolar I or II disorder, substance-induced mood disorder, or any mood disorder due to a general medical condition

4. History of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury

5. History of comorbid substance disorder within 1 month of screening

6. Prior use of ketamine as an antidepressant

7. Clinically unstable medical illness

8. For women: pregnancy (confirmed by baseline lab test), the initiation of female hormonal treatments within 3 months of screening, or inability or unwillingness to use a medically accepted contraceptive method for the duration of the study

9. Imminent risk of suicidal/homicidal ideation and/or behavior

10. Inability to undergo MRI (i.e. claustrophobia, ferromagnetic implants, etc.)

1. Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent

2. Moderate/severe cognitive impairment

3. History of any major medical or psychiatric disorders

4. Current or lifetime diagnosis of psychosis-related disorder, bipolar I or II disorder, substance-induced mood disorder, or any mood disorder due to a general medical condition

5. History of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury

6. History of comorbid substance disorder within 1 month of screening

7. Prior use of ketamine as an antidepressant

8. Clinically unstable medical illness

9. For women: pregnancy (confirmed by baseline lab test), the initiation of female hormonal treatments within 3 months of screening, or inability or unwillingness to use a medically accepted contraceptive method for the duration of the study

10. Imminent risk of suicidal/homicidal ideation and/or behavior

11. Inability to undergo MRI (i.e. claustrophobia, ferromagnetic implants, etc.)

1. Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent

2. Moderate/severe cognitive impairment

3. Meet DSM-5 criteria for PTSD or subthreshold PTSD

4. Current or lifetime diagnosis of psychosis-related disorder, bipolar I or II disorder, substance-induced mood disorder, or any mood disorder due to a general medical condition

5. History of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury

6. History of comorbid substance disorder within 1 month of screening

7. Prior use of ketamine as an antidepressant

8. Clinically unstable medical illness

9. For women: pregnancy (confirmed by baseline lab test), the initiation of female hormonal treatments within 3 months of screening, or inability or unwillingness to use a medically accepted contraceptive method for the duration of the study

10. Imminent risk of suicidal/homicidal ideation and/or behavior

11. Inability to undergo MRI (i.e. claustrophobia, ferromagnetic implants, etc.)

1. Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent

2. Moderate/severe cognitive impairment

3. Meet DSM-5 criteria for a diagnosis of MDD, single or recurrent, moderate to severe

4. Current or lifetime diagnosis of psychosis-related disorder, bipolar I or II disorder, substance-induced mood disorder, or any mood disorder due to a general medical condition

5. History of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury

6. History of comorbid substance disorder within 1 month of screening

7. Prior use of ketamine as an antidepressant

8. Clinically unstable medical illness

9. For women: pregnancy (confirmed by baseline lab test), the initiation of female hormonal treatments within 3 months of screening, or inability or unwillingness to use a medically accepted contraceptive method for the duration of the study

10. Imminent risk of suicidal/homicidal ideation and/or behavior

11. Inability to undergo MRI (i.e. claustrophobia, ferromagnetic implants, etc.)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 75 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center

FED

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Minnesota

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Cristina S Albott, MD, MA

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Locations

Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

PSYCH-2019-28086

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id