Ketamine and Neurofeedback-Training: Effects on Neuroplasticity in Cocaine Addiction
NCT ID: NCT06125054
Last Updated: 2024-12-20
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
PHASE2
120 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-02-05
2026-03-31
Brief Summary
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* Can the investigators observe a positive, significant effect on percentage of cocaine use days of both interventions combined as well as stand alone interventions?
* Is there a significant transfer effect of the neurofeedback training?
* Is there a significant, ketamine-dependent change in glutamate levels in the nucleus accumbens?
Participants will be given ketamine and a realtime fMRI neurofeedback training. Both interventions are placebo-controlled. The investigators will compare the four intervention groups to investigate the effects of the stand-alone effects of the intervention and the combination of it.
Detailed Description
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The investigators therefore propose, to use latest advancements in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and real time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback training (rt-fMRI NFT) to develop a neurobiologically informed experimental approach for an individualized and integrated pharmaco-psychotherapy that has the potential to open new avenues for the treatment of CUD, and in addition, to be transferable to other neuropsychiatric conditions.
To improve the efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions in individuals with CUD, the investigators recently developed an rt-fMRI NFT paradigm based on reward imagery to specifically modify maladaptive reward sensitivity by self-regulating the brain's reward circuits.
Furthermore, using a 1H-MRS technique, the investigators recently demonstrated that a disturbed glutamate homeostasis in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), an important hub in the brain's reward system, characterizes cue-induced craving in CUD. This indicates that urgently needed novel pharmacotherapies for addiction treatment should target the glutamatergic system.
Thus, to restore the glutamate homeostasis and to boost learning effect of the reward imagery training, the investigators propose to combine reward imagery rt- fMRI NFT with the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine, which has direct effects both on glutamatergic signaling and neuroplasticity and has shown therapeutic potential to reduce cocaine craving and cocaine us.
The investigators anticipate a) restoration of the glutamate homeostasis in the NAcc b) changes in maladaptive reward sensitivity resulting from rt-fMRI NFT and c) synergistic effects of the pharmacological and the psychotherapeutic effect due to the ketamine-induced neuroplasticity that might open a window of opportunity for imagery-based learning. The investigators hypothesize that these neurobiological adaptions induced by the described interventions underlie their therapeutic effects on cocaine craving and use.
The effects of ketamine and reward imagery rt-fMRI NFT in individuals with CUD will be tested in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, parallel group study.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
QUADRUPLE
Study Groups
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rt-fMRI NFT / Placebo
Participants get real time neurofeedback based on an experimental regions' activity and receive a 0.9% saline solution (i.v.) over 40 minutes.
Placebo
single dose of placebo (0.9% saline solution i.v. over 40 minutes)
real-time fMRI neurofeedback training
Real-time fMRI based neurofeedback over 20 minutes where participants are instructed to perform reward imagery. The feedback is based on an experimental region. The training is repeated three times.
rt-fMRI NFT / Ketamine
Participants get real time neurofeedback based on an experimental regions' activity and receive 0.71mg ketamine (i.v.) per kilogram bodyweight.
Ketamine
single dose of ketamine (0.71mg/kg bodyweight i.v. over 40 minutes)
real-time fMRI neurofeedback training
Real-time fMRI based neurofeedback over 20 minutes where participants are instructed to perform reward imagery. The feedback is based on an experimental region. The training is repeated three times.
sham NFT / Placebo
Participants get a real time neurofeedback based on a control regions' activity, which serves as a sham region and receive a 0.9% saline solution (i.v.) over 40 minutes.
Placebo
single dose of placebo (0.9% saline solution i.v. over 40 minutes)
sham real-time fMRI neurofeedback training
Sham real-time fMRI neurofeedback training over 20 minutes where participants are instructed to perform reward imagery. The feedback is based on a control region. The training is repeated three times.
sham NFT / Ketamine
Participants get a real time neurofeedback based on a control regions' activity, which serves as a sham region and receive 0.71mg ketamine (i.v.) per kilogram bodyweight.
Ketamine
single dose of ketamine (0.71mg/kg bodyweight i.v. over 40 minutes)
sham real-time fMRI neurofeedback training
Sham real-time fMRI neurofeedback training over 20 minutes where participants are instructed to perform reward imagery. The feedback is based on a control region. The training is repeated three times.
Interventions
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Ketamine
single dose of ketamine (0.71mg/kg bodyweight i.v. over 40 minutes)
Placebo
single dose of placebo (0.9% saline solution i.v. over 40 minutes)
real-time fMRI neurofeedback training
Real-time fMRI based neurofeedback over 20 minutes where participants are instructed to perform reward imagery. The feedback is based on an experimental region. The training is repeated three times.
sham real-time fMRI neurofeedback training
Sham real-time fMRI neurofeedback training over 20 minutes where participants are instructed to perform reward imagery. The feedback is based on a control region. The training is repeated three times.
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Male and female cocaine users 18 to 55 years of age
* diagnostic and statisical manual (DSM)-5 diagnosis of CUD
* Willingness to comply with the study protocol as explained by investigator
* Normal level of language comprehension (German or Swiss-German)
Exclusion Criteria
* History of severe substance-induced psychosis
* Current or lifetime bipolar I or II disorders
* Current suicidality
* Previous suicide attempts during the last 2 years
* Current severe alcohol use disorder
* Current severe cannabis use disorder
* Current moderate or severe stimulant use disorder (other than cocaine)
* Current moderate or severe benzodiazepine use disorder
* Current opioid use disorder
* First-degree relatives with psychotic disorders
* Beck Depression Inventory Score greater than 25
* Unmedicated or unstable hypertension
* Severe illness (e. g. myocardial ischemia or arrythmias, severe pulmonary secretions, glaucoma, congestive heart failure or angina, significant renal or hepatic impairment)
* Acute infection (e. g. pulmonary or upper respiratory tract infection)
* Insufficient treated or uncorrected hyperthyroidism
* Severe central nervous system related traumas or disorders (e. g. stroke, cerebral trauma with loss of consciousness over more than 24h, epilepsy)
* Increased intracranial pressure
* Medication directly affecting glutamate signaling (e. g. anticonvulsant medication)
* Any unstable psychoactive medication (no changes in compounds within last 4 weeks before start of study)
* Pregnancy or lactation
* Women of childbearing potential with no use of medically accepted contraceptive (e. g.
condoms, contraceptive diaphragm, birth control pill, hormone injection, intrauterine device)
* BMI\>35
* Allergy, hypersensitivity, or other adverse reaction to previous use of ketamine
* Contradictions to magnetic resonance imaging
* Concurrent participation in other clinical study
18 Years
55 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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University of Zurich
OTHER
University of Vienna
OTHER
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli
OTHER
Dr. med. Marcus Herdener
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Dr. med. Marcus Herdener
Dr. med.
Locations
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Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich
Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Marcus Herdener, PD Dr. med.
Role: primary
Etna Engeli, Dr.
Role: backup
References
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Trippel AS, Gubser LP, Engeli EJE, Conradi J, Haugg A, Zoelch N, Herdener M. Co-Boost: boosting and guiding neuroplasticity by combining ketamine with neurofeedback-assisted learning-towards an individualised and integrated pharmaco-psychotherapy for cocaine addiction: study protocol for a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, single-centre trial. Trials. 2025 Sep 25;26(1):354. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-08982-9.
Other Identifiers
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Co-Boost_PUK_2022-01859
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id