Clinical trial NCT04032301: Repeated Ketamine Infusions for Comorbid PTSD and MDD in Veterans
Official title: Characterization of Comorbid Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder Utilizing Ketamine as an Experimental Medicine Probe
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE1
Conditions: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders
Major Depressive Disorder
Keywords: ketamine
stress disorders, post-traumatic
stress disorders, traumatic
anxiety disorders
mental disorders
adjuvants, anesthesia
analgesics
anesthetics
anesthetics, dissociative
anesthetics, general
anesthetics, intravenous
excitatory amino acid agents
excitatory amino acid antagonists
hypnotics and sedatives
molecular mechanisms of pharmacological action
neurotransmitter agents
peripheral nervous system agents
pharmacologic actions
physiological effects of drugs
psychotropic drugs
sensory system agents
central nervous system agents
central nervous system depressants
depression
depressive disorder
depressive disorder, treatment-resistant
behavioral symptoms
mood disorders
therapeutic uses
Lead sponsor: University of Minnesota
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center
First posted: 2019-07-25
Enrollment: 67
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 75
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Experimental versus Placebo
Primary purpose: DIAGNOSTIC

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.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

For the PTSD+MDD group, inclusion criteria are:

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

For the Healthy Controls group, inclusion criteria are:

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

For the Depression-only group, inclusion criteria are:

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

For the PTSD-only group, inclusion criteria are:

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:

For the PTSD+MDD group, exclusion criteria are:

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.)

For the Healthy Controls group, exclusion criteria are:

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.)

For the Depression-only group, exclusion criteria are:

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.)

For the PTSD-only group, exclusion criteria are:

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.)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)
timeFrame: At baseline, 60 minutes pre-infusion, 24 hours post-infusion, and after infusion series up to 2 months.
measure: PTSD Symptom Scale-Interview for DSM-5 (PSS-I-5)
timeFrame: At baseline, 60 minutes pre-infusion, 24 hours post-infusion, and after infusion series up to 2 months.
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Minneapolis
country: United States
facility: Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System
state: Minnesota
Study officials:
affiliation: Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center
name: Cristina S Albott, MD, MA
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: