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Trial of the Rapid Antisuicidal Effects of Intranasal Ketamine in Comorbid Depression and Alcohol Abuse

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of the Rapid Antisuicidal Effects of Intranasal Ketamine in Comorbid Depression and Alcohol Abuse

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03539887
Enrollment
33
Registered
2018-05-29
Start date
2018-05-01
Completion date
2022-01-15
Last updated
2023-03-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Alcohol Abuse, Depression, Suicidal Ideation

Keywords

Ketamine, Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Alcohol Abuse

Brief summary

This project aims to evaluate the potential rapid and sustained antisuicidal and antidepressant effects of a single intranasal dose of ketamine in inpatients during a mood episode in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Bipolar Disorder (BD) with or without comorbid recent abuse of alcohol.

Detailed description

Clinicians have a limited ability to predict imminent suicidal behavior and efficacious treatments are not available to treat suicidal patients. Thus, Rapid-acting treatments for suicidal individuals are truly needed. This project aims to evaluate the potential rapid and sustained antisuicidal and antidepressant effects of a single intranasal dose of ketamine in inpatients during a mood episode (in Major Depressive Disorder, MDD or Bipolar Disorder, BD) with or without comorbid recent abuse of alcohol. These results will elucidate the antisuicidal effects of ketamine using the intranasal route along with the identification of associated mediators or moderators; this approach has the potential for enormous public health impact.

Interventions

DRUGIntranasal ketamine

Intranasal ketamine will be prepared as 100mg/ml ketamine in 0.9% saline. An mucosal atomization device will be used to provide 5 intranasal applications of solution (volume 100 μl), separated by 3 minutes, over a total of 15 minutes. Each of five ketamine applications will provide 10 mg of study drug, for a total of 50mg. The dose to be used (0.5-1mg/Kg) is 6 to 18 times lower than the sedation dose (6-9mg/Kg).

DRUGPlacebo

Saline alone. An mucosal atomization device will be used to provide 5 intranasal applications of saline (volume 100 μl), separated by 3 minutes, over a total of 15 minutes.

Sponsors

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Voluntary admission to Harris County Psychiatry Center * Able to provide written informed consent * Current suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -IV- Text Revision(DSM-IV-TR) depressive episode (also MADRS greater than or equal to 12) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score lower than 8 * DSM-IV-TR criteria for current alcohol abuse (but not intoxicated/withdrawal, abstinent from drinking for \> 5 days prior to admission). * Lifetime history of suicide attempt (patient) * Not taking any medication in the last 24hs. * Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) score over 4 (first five items) and Columbia scale (C-SSRS) score 4 or 5

Exclusion criteria

* Unstable medical condition or medical problem with known central nervous system (CNS) effects, e.g. uncontrolled hypertension systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥170 and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥100) or recent history (6 months) of alcohol-withdrawal seizures or significant abnormal laboratory tests (liver function test (LFT) 3 times higher than normal). * Prior diagnosis of a DSM-IV-TR psychotic spectrum disorder, psychotic symptoms, or personality disorder. * Currently under the acute effects of an illicit substance. * Pregnant or nursing women. * Subjects with a history of DSM-IV drug dependency or abuse (except for caffeine or nicotine dependence) within the preceding 3 months

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Suicidal Ideation as Assessed by the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI)24 hoursThe scale contains 19 items rated on a scale from 0 to 2, allowing score range from 0 to 38, score over 4 (first five items) will be considered inclusion criteria. Higher values indicate worsening or presence of suicidal ideation.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Depression as Assessed by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)24 hoursIt has ten items, each item yields a score of 0 to 6. Hence the overall score ranges from 0 to 60. Higher scores indicate more severe depression.
Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale24 hoursThe Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is an assessment of anhedonia, which is the inability to experience pleasure. The SHAPS has 14 items. Each item has four possible responses: strongly disagree, disagree, agree, or strongly agree. A response of strongly disagree or disagree equals one point, and a response of strongly agree or agree equals 0 points. Thus, the final score ranges from 0 to 14. A score of 2 or less constitutes a normal score, while an abnormal score is defined as 3 or more.
Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ)24 hoursAlcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) is a multi-item measure of self-reported urges to drink alcohol, predictor of drinking abuse and relapse. AUQ is an 8-item questionnaire. Each item is scored on a 1 to 7 scale (Strongly Disagree = 1 and Strongly Agree = 7). Items 2 and 7 are reverse scored. Total score ranges from 8 to 56, and a higher score reflects greater craving.
Manic Symptoms as Assessed by Score on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)24 hoursThe YMRS has 11 items, and total score ranges from 0 to 88, with a higher score indicating greater mania.
Dissociative State as Assessed by Score on Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS)24 hoursThe CADSS consists of 23 items, and each item is rated on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 4 (severe), with the total score ranging from 0 to 92. A higher score indicates greater severity of dissociative state.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Pre-assignment details

5 participants who were enrolled were not randomized and did not start the study.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Intranasal Ketamine
Intranasal ketamine Intranasal ketamine: Intranasal ketamine will be prepared as 100mg/ml ketamine in 0.9% saline. An mucosal atomization device will be used to provide 5 intranasal applications of solution (volume 100 μl), separated by 3 minutes, over a total of 15 minutes. Each of five ketamine applications will provide 10 mg of study drug, for a total of 50mg. The dose to be used (0.5-1mg/Kg) is 6 to 18 times lower than the sedation dose (6-9mg/Kg).
17
Placebo
non-active placebo Placebo: Saline alone. An mucosal atomization device will be used to provide 5 intranasal applications of saline (volume 100 μl), separated by 3 minutes, over a total of 15 minutes.
11
Total28

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicIntranasal KetamineTotalPlacebo
Age, Continuous39 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9
38.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.1
38.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.8
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
3 Participants3 Participants0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
14 Participants25 Participants11 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
3 Participants6 Participants3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
3 Participants3 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
11 Participants19 Participants8 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
17 Participants28 Participants11 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
5 Participants7 Participants2 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
12 Participants21 Participants9 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 170 / 11
other
Total, other adverse events
12 / 174 / 11
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 170 / 11

Outcome results

Primary

Suicidal Ideation as Assessed by the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI)

The scale contains 19 items rated on a scale from 0 to 2, allowing score range from 0 to 38, score over 4 (first five items) will be considered inclusion criteria. Higher values indicate worsening or presence of suicidal ideation.

Time frame: 24 hours

Population: Data for this outcome measure were not collected for 1 participant in the placebo arm.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intranasal KetamineSuicidal Ideation as Assessed by the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI)10.8 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 8.08
PlaceboSuicidal Ideation as Assessed by the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI)12.3 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 7.83
Secondary

Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ)

Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) is a multi-item measure of self-reported urges to drink alcohol, predictor of drinking abuse and relapse. AUQ is an 8-item questionnaire. Each item is scored on a 1 to 7 scale (Strongly Disagree = 1 and Strongly Agree = 7). Items 2 and 7 are reverse scored. Total score ranges from 8 to 56, and a higher score reflects greater craving.

Time frame: 24 hours

Population: Data for this outcome measure were not collected for 1 participant in the ketamine arm and one participant in the placebo arm.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intranasal KetamineAlcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ)13.8 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 12.2
PlaceboAlcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ)16.3 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 11.2
Secondary

Depression as Assessed by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)

It has ten items, each item yields a score of 0 to 6. Hence the overall score ranges from 0 to 60. Higher scores indicate more severe depression.

Time frame: 24 hours

Population: Data for this outcome measure were not collected for 1 participant in the placebo arm.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intranasal KetamineDepression as Assessed by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)16.8 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 13.7
PlaceboDepression as Assessed by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)22.5 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 17.7
Secondary

Dissociative State as Assessed by Score on Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS)

The CADSS consists of 23 items, and each item is rated on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 4 (severe), with the total score ranging from 0 to 92. A higher score indicates greater severity of dissociative state.

Time frame: 24 hours

Population: Data for this outcome measure were not collected for 1 participant in the placebo arm.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intranasal KetamineDissociative State as Assessed by Score on Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS)0.824 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.9
PlaceboDissociative State as Assessed by Score on Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS)1.60 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.2
Secondary

Manic Symptoms as Assessed by Score on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)

The YMRS has 11 items, and total score ranges from 0 to 88, with a higher score indicating greater mania.

Time frame: 24 hours

Population: Data for this outcome measure were not collected for 1 participant in the placebo arm

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intranasal KetamineManic Symptoms as Assessed by Score on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)2.29 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.85
PlaceboManic Symptoms as Assessed by Score on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)2.40 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.12
Secondary

Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale

The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is an assessment of anhedonia, which is the inability to experience pleasure. The SHAPS has 14 items. Each item has four possible responses: strongly disagree, disagree, agree, or strongly agree. A response of strongly disagree or disagree equals one point, and a response of strongly agree or agree equals 0 points. Thus, the final score ranges from 0 to 14. A score of 2 or less constitutes a normal score, while an abnormal score is defined as 3 or more.

Time frame: 24 hours

Population: Data for this outcome measure were not collected for 1 participant in the placebo arm.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Intranasal KetamineSnaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale4.12 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 4.81
PlaceboSnaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale5.00 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 4.29

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 6, 2026