Ketamine Infusions for Major Depression Disorder

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

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

Conditions
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Depressive Disorder, Major

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Ketamine


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 90 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Ketamine<br>Active Comparator | Drug: Ketamine<br>* Drug (including placebo)<br>* Other names: ketalar;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | 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 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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ketamine, MDD