Ketamine Infusions for Major Depression Disorder (Ketamie)

Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of Sub-anesthetic Ketamine Infusions as a Treatment for Patients Diagnosed With Resistant Major Depression

Ketamine has been safely used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia for decades and more recently has been used for chronic pain. Ketamine is a noncompetitive, high-affinity antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate type glutamate receptor, with additional effects on dopamine and μ-opioid receptors. During the last 9 years several uncontrolled reports have been published, showing a rapid and impressive effect of ketamine in TRD patients (Berman, Cappiello et al. 2000; Zarate, Singh et al. 2006; Mathew, Murrough et al. 2010; Aan Het Rot, Zarate et al. 2012; Mathew, Shah et al. 2012; Murrough, Iosifescu et al. 2013). Recently three placebo-controlled trials showed that a single dose of sub-anesthetic, (0.5 mg/kg) slow intravenous (IV) ketamine improves depressive symptoms dramatically. Across studies, a clinically significant antidepressant response was maintained for up to 72 hours in 12 of 25 patients. Nonetheless, all but two patients relapsed <2 weeks post-ketamine (Zarate, Singh et al. 2006; aan Het Rot, Zarate et al. 2012). Rot et al. showed that repeated IV ketamine infusions prolongs the duration of improvement.

The investigators believe that the data presented above allows us to provide ketamine treatment here in the Sheba Medical Center for TRD patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Depressive Disorder, Major
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Ketamine

Detailed Description

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide (Collins, Patel et al. 2011). A substantial proportion of patients do not achieve adequate remission despite multiple antidepressant trials and augmentation strategies (Rush, Trivedi et al. 2006; Weissman, Pilowsky et al. 2006). Treatment-resistant major depression (TRD) is defined as an insufficient response to at least two adequate antidepressant trials (Rush, Trivedi et al. 2006). Many of these patients are referred to previous somatic treatment e.g. electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), rapid Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS), all of which have serious disadvantages and/or limited efficacy.

Ketamine has been safely used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia for decades and more recently has been used for chronic pain. Ketamine is a noncompetitive, high-affinity antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate type glutamate receptor, with additional effects on dopamine and μ-opioid receptors. During the last 9 years several uncontrolled reports have been published, showing a rapid and impressive effect of ketamine in TRD patients (Berman, Cappiello et al. 2000; Zarate, Singh et al. 2006; Mathew, Murrough et al. 2010; Aan Het Rot, Zarate et al. 2012; Mathew, Shah et al. 2012; Murrough, Iosifescu et al. 2013). Recently three placebo-controlled trials showed that a single dose of sub-anesthetic, (0.5 mg/kg) slow intravenous (IV) ketamine improves depressive symptoms dramatically. Across studies, a clinically significant antidepressant response was maintained for up to 72 hours in 12 of 25 patients. Nonetheless, all but two patients relapsed <2 weeks post-ketamine (Zarate, Singh et al. 2006; aan Het Rot, Zarate et al. 2012). Rot et al. showed that repeated IV ketamine infusions prolongs the duration of improvement.

The investigators believe that the data presented above allows us to provide ketamine treatment here in the Sheba Medical Center for TRD patients.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 10
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Israel
  • Ramat Gan, Israel, 5265601
    • Sheba MC

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of Major Depressive disorder, chronic and/or recurrent of at least at moderate severity, determined as reflected by baseline scores of ≥32 on the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology -Clinician rated IDS-C30
• Patients with demonstrated insufficient response to ≥2 adequate antidepressant trials in the current episode

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current psychotic or dissociative symptoms
• Severe personality disorder with psychosis or dissociative symptoms
• Lifetime history of psychotic mania
• Substance use disorder
• Current suicidal ideation
• Uncontrolled elevated blood pressure, non-sinus rhythm, unstable ischemic heart disease, uncorrected hyper thyroidism, and for women, pregnancy or the initiation of or female hormonal treatment <3 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Ketamine; Active Comparator	Drug: Ketamine; Drug (including placebo); Other Names: ketalar

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Montgomery Asberg Rating scale - MADRS	24 hours after treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Side effects monitoring	Blood pressure monitoring Dissociative symptoms detection and description	Up to 4 hours after ketamine infustion

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Hamilston depression Rating Scale	Up to 30 days from last treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sheba Medical Center
• Collaborators: Tel Aviv University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): January 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Anticipated): August 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 12, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 17, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): August 19, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): August 29, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 28, 2014
• Last Verified: August 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: MDD; ketamine
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Mood Disorders; Depressive Disorder; Depressive Disorder, Major; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Central Nervous System Depressants; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Anesthetics, Dissociative; Anesthetics, Intravenous; Anesthetics, General; Anesthetics; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; Ketamine
• Other Study ID Numbers: Sheba- Ketamine