Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression

NCT ID: NCT06668571

Last Updated: 2025-10-14

Study Results

Results pending

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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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-02-10

Study Completion Date

2027-12-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to to evaluate the relationships between peak (% change from baseline) central GABA and Glu levels during a 40-min IV ketamine or normal saline infusion utilizing fMRS, and change in peripheral GABA and Glu levels from baseline to 24-hr postinfusion utilizing LCMS, with baseline to 24-hr post-infusion change in depression (MADRS) in 30 TRD adults.

Detailed Description

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This will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study where adult subjects with treatment refractory major depressive disorder (MDD) will receive 1:1 single IV racemic ketamine (n=15) or normal saline (placebo) (n=15) infusion in an MRI scanner, followed by an optional open-label ketamine infusion. In this innovative comparative study utilizing novel dynamic sliding-window fMRS and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS), we will investigate the dynamic relationship between GABA and Glu levels measured centrally and peripherally, respectively, with change in depression symptoms utilizing the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).12 Given preclinical models of reduced ACs and glutamatergic function in depression, we will also include an exploratory analysis of ACs metabolomic markers associated with ketamine treatment response.

Conditions

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Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors
MRI-tech, Radiologist, and Clinical Research Trial Unit Nurses. Any staff involved in the ratings will be blinded to the treatment of the subject for infusion. Only the study investigator present during infusion in the MRI will be unblinded for safety precautions during the infusion.

Study Groups

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Ketamine Group

Subjects will receive IV racemic ketamine at a dose of 0.5 mg per kg of the participant's actual body weight, with a maximum dose of 50 mg for individuals weighing over 100 kg.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Ketamine

Intervention Type DRUG

The subjects will receive 1:1 single IV racemic ketamine (dosed @0.5 mg/kg actual body weight) (n=15) 40-min infusion in an MRI scanner, followed by an optional open-label ketamine infusion (available to everyone) 1-7 days after the initial treatment

Normal Saline/Placebo Group

Subjects will receive an IV infusion of normal saline over a duration of 40 minutes

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Normal Saline

Intervention Type DRUG

The subjects will receive 1:1 single IV normal saline/placebo (n=15) 40-min infusion in an MRI scanner, followed by an optional open-label ketamine infusion (available to everyone) 1-7 days after the initial treatment

Interventions

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Ketamine

The subjects will receive 1:1 single IV racemic ketamine (dosed @0.5 mg/kg actual body weight) (n=15) 40-min infusion in an MRI scanner, followed by an optional open-label ketamine infusion (available to everyone) 1-7 days after the initial treatment

Intervention Type DRUG

Normal Saline

The subjects will receive 1:1 single IV normal saline/placebo (n=15) 40-min infusion in an MRI scanner, followed by an optional open-label ketamine infusion (available to everyone) 1-7 days after the initial treatment

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Ability to provide informed consent
* Meets diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder without psychotic features per the SCID DSM-IV-TR
* PHQ-9 total score ≥ 15 at screening
* Treatment-resistant depression, as defined by failure of at least two previous antidepressant treatments within the current depressive episode. Failed antidepressant treatments can include pharmacotherapy for depression at an adequate dose for at least 8 weeks, trial of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or an acute series of at least 6 administrations of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
* Ability to pass a comprehension assessment test related to effects of ketamine and trial objectives and criteria

Exclusion Criteria

* Inability to speak English
* Inability to provide consent or have a legal guardian
* Patients with a BMI \> 40 kg/m2.
* Personality disorder being the primary diagnosis
* Diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or active psychotic symptoms
* Active post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms based on clinical assessment
* Ongoing prescription of \> 2 mg lorazepam equivalents (total) daily, or morning dosing of any benzodiazepine at the time of assessment
* Medications known to affect glutamate (i.e., Riluzole, Carbamazepine) or GABA (zaleplon, zolpidem, zopiclone, Valproate, Gabapentin, Pregabalin, tiagabine, and vigabatrin) are prohibited within two weeks prior to administration of study drug and at least 24 hours after last dose of study drug
* Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) are prohibited two weeks prior to administration of study drug
* Opioid antagonists (naltrexone, naloxone, nalmefene, methylnaltrexone, buprenorphine and naloxone combination) are prohibited within two weeks prior to administration of study drug and at least 24 hours after last dose of study drug
* CYP3A4 inducers carbamazepine and modafinil are prohibited within two weeks prior to administration of study drug and at least 24 hours after last dose of study drug.
* Currently undergoing TMS, vagal nerve stimulation, or deep brain stimulation as either an acute or maintenance treatment of depression
* ECT in the past 6 months
* Any active or unstable medical condition judged by the study psychiatrist as conferring too great a level of medical risk to allow inclusion in the study
* A history of bleeding in the brain
* Arteriovenous malformation or a history of aneurysm
* Use of methamphetamine, cocaine, or cannabis. Abuse of stimulant (s) within the prior 12 months
* Any current substance use disorder (excluding nicotine and caffeine). Note: Persons will be allowed to enroll in this study if their substance use is in complete (not partial) and sustained (\> 1 year) remission
* History of traumatic brain injury that resulted in loss of consciousness with brain bleeding
* History of tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures
* Developmental delay, intellectual disability, or intellectual disorder
* Clinical or self-reported diagnosis of delirium, encephalopathy, or related clinical diagnosis within the prior 12 months
* Minor or Major Neurocognitive disorder
* Received ketamine treatment for depression within the prior 2 months
* History of either poor antidepressive response to or poor tolerability of ketamine (any route of administration) when previously administered
* History of hypothyroidism unless taking a stable dose of thyroid medication and asymptomatic for 3 months
* Hepatic insufficiency (2.5 X ULN for AST or ALT) within 3 months of consent, past liver transplant recipient, and/or clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver
* Gastroesophageal reflux disease that is poorly managed
* A diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
* Pregnancy, or nursing
* History of claustrophobia with active symptoms that would interfere with the MRI
* Any contraindication to MRI safety questionnaire
* Poorly controlled hypertension.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Mayo Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Balwinder Singh, MD, MS

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Balwinder Singh, M.D., M.S.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mayo Clinic

Locations

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Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Nicole Reinicke

Role: CONTACT

507-422-1835

References

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Singh B, Vande Voort JL, Pazdernik VK, Frye MA, Kung S. Treatment-resistant depression patients with baseline suicidal ideation required more treatments to achieve therapeutic response with ketamine/esketamine. J Affect Disord. 2024 Apr 15;351:534-540. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.262. Epub 2024 Jan 30.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 38302067 (View on PubMed)

Singh B, Bobo WV, Rasmussen KG, Stoppel CJ, Rico JA Jr, Schak KM, Biernacka JM, Frye MA, Vande Voort JL. The Association Between Body Mass Index and Remission Rates in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression Who Received Intravenous Ketamine. J Clin Psychiatry. 2019 Nov 12;80(6):19l12852. doi: 10.4088/JCP.19l12852. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31721482 (View on PubMed)

Frye MA, Blier P, Tye SJ. Concomitant benzodiazepine use attenuates ketamine response: implications for large scale study design and clinical development. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015 Jun;35(3):334-6. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000000316. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25928701 (View on PubMed)

Singh B, Parikh SV, Voort JLV, Pazdernik VK, Achtyes ED, Goes FS, Yocum AK, Nykamp L, Becerra A, Smart L, Greden JF, Bobo WV, Frye MA, Burdick KE, Ryan KA. Change in neurocognitive functioning in patients with treatment-resistant depression with serial intravenous ketamine infusions: The Bio-K multicenter trial. Psychiatry Res. 2024 May;335:115829. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115829. Epub 2024 Feb 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 38479192 (View on PubMed)

Parikh SV, Vande Voort JL, Yocum AK, Achtyes E, Goes FS, Nykamp L, Singh B, Lopez-Vives D, Sera CE, Maixner D, Tarnal V, Severe J, Bartek S, Tye SJ, Rico J, Stoppel CJ, Becerra A, Smart L, Miller CR, Frye MA, Greden JF, Bobo WV. Clinical outcomes in the biomarkers of ketamine (Bio-K) study of open-label IV ketamine for refractory depression. J Affect Disord. 2024 Mar 1;348:143-151. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.12.033. Epub 2023 Dec 22.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 38142892 (View on PubMed)

Singh B, Kung S, Pazdernik V, Schak KM, Geske J, Schulte PJ, Frye MA, Vande Voort JL. Comparative Effectiveness of Intravenous Ketamine and Intranasal Esketamine in Clinical Practice Among Patients With Treatment-Refractory Depression: An Observational Study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2023 Feb 1;84(2):22m14548. doi: 10.4088/JCP.22m14548.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36724113 (View on PubMed)

Vande Voort JL, Morgan RJ, Kung S, Rasmussen KG, Rico J, Palmer BA, Schak KM, Tye SJ, Ritter MJ, Frye MA, Bobo WV. Continuation phase intravenous ketamine in adults with treatment-resistant depression. J Affect Disord. 2016 Dec;206:300-304. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.09.008. Epub 2016 Sep 12.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27656788 (View on PubMed)

Brix MK, Ersland L, Hugdahl K, Dwyer GE, Gruner R, Noeske R, Beyer MK, Craven AR. Within- and between-session reproducibility of GABA measurements with MR spectroscopy. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2017 Aug;46(2):421-430. doi: 10.1002/jmri.25588. Epub 2017 Feb 15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28205280 (View on PubMed)

Dubin MJ, Mao X, Banerjee S, Goodman Z, Lapidus KA, Kang G, Liston C, Shungu DC. Elevated prefrontal cortex GABA in patients with major depressive disorder after TMS treatment measured with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2016 Apr;41(3):E37-45. doi: 10.1503/jpn.150223.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26900793 (View on PubMed)

Port JD, Singh B, Frye MA. Dynamic Sliding-Window MRS Method for Measuring Changes in Glutamate and GABA in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder. presented at: ISMRM & SMRT Virtual Conference & Exhibition; 2020; Virtual https://www.ismrm.org/20/program_files/DP01-09.htm#044

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Singh B, Vande Voort JL, Riva-Posse P, Pazdernik VM, Frye MA, Tye SJ. Ketamine-Associated Change in Anhedonia and mTOR Expression in Treatment-Resistant Depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 15;93(12):e65-e68. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.10.007. Epub 2023 Jan 25. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36707268 (View on PubMed)

Rotroff DM, Corum DG, Motsinger-Reif A, Fiehn O, Bottrel N, Drevets WC, Singh J, Salvadore G, Kaddurah-Daouk R. Metabolomic signatures of drug response phenotypes for ketamine and esketamine in subjects with refractory major depressive disorder: new mechanistic insights for rapid acting antidepressants. Transl Psychiatry. 2016 Sep 20;6(9):e894. doi: 10.1038/tp.2016.145.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27648916 (View on PubMed)

Singh B, Port JD, Voort JLV, Coombes BJ, Geske JR, Lanza IR, Morgan RJ, Frye MA. A preliminary study of the association of increased anterior cingulate gamma-aminobutyric acid with remission of depression after ketamine administration. Psychiatry Res. 2021 Jul;301:113953. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113953. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33933839 (View on PubMed)

Singh B, Port JD, Pazdernik V, Coombes BJ, Vande Voort JL, Frye MA. Racemic ketamine treatment attenuates anterior cingulate cortex GABA deficits among remitters in treatment-resistant depression: A pilot study. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2022 Mar;320:111432. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2021.111432. Epub 2021 Dec 24. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34973601 (View on PubMed)

Singh B, MahmoudianDehkordi S, Voort JLV, Han X, Port JD, Frye MA, Kaddurah-Daouk R; Mood Disorders Precision Medicine Consortium (MDPMC). Metabolomic signatures of intravenous racemic ketamine associated remission in treatment-resistant depression: A pilot hypothesis generating study. Psychiatry Res. 2022 Aug;314:114655. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114655. Epub 2022 May 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35738038 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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5KL2TR002379

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

5KL2TR002379-08

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

24-005249

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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