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Intramuscular Ketamine Versus Aripiprazole and Escitalopram in the Treatment of Resistant Depression

Intramuscular Ketamine Versus Escitalopram and Aripiprazole in Acute and Maintenance Treatment of Patients With Treatment-resistant Depression

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04234776
Acronym
KETProject
Enrollment
88
Registered
2020-01-21
Start date
2018-04-03
Completion date
2021-04-03
Last updated
2020-01-21

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

Conditions

Depressive Disorder

Keywords

Ketamine, Treatment Resistant Depression

Brief summary

The treatment of resistant depression should be optimized aiming at complete remission of symptoms, a complex condition due to several factors. Approximately 1/3 of patients with depressive disorders do not even respond to available antidepressants. Consequently, new molecules with robust action, fast effects and sustained improvement are currently being researched worldwide. Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, has emerged as a promising alternative due to its involvement in neurogenesis, synaptogenesis and consequent rapid improvement of depressive and suicidal symptoms with traditional intravenous (IV) use in sub dose (0.5 mg / kg). The therapeutic response of IV use has been short and requires monitoring in a hospital setting. There are no studies evaluating response to long-term ketamine use. Recent research has focused on identifying other routes of ketamine use such as intranasal and intramuscular (IM). The use of ketamine IM, despite the fact that there are few studies and small samples, can demonstrate efficacy in acute treatment and maintenance of depression, as well as low profile of side effects, greater accessibility potential, reduced costs and risks, patient comfort and possible expansion of resistant depression treatment capabilities in different settings.

Detailed description

Compare the response of ketamine IM versus active control in treatment-resistant depression (TRD \[primary outcome\]) and find safety and tolerability of ketamine IM, evaluate changes in life quality, cognition and suicidal risk (secondary outcomes)

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTCognition

Composite tools

OTHERSuicide risk

MADRS (10) and HAM-D (3)

OTHERDepression thoughts

EPD

OTHERQuality of life and disability

Quality of life and disability

OTHERClinical and epidemiological factors

Variables and categories

DEVICESafety of ketamine IM

Vital signs

OTHERTolerability of ketamine IM

UKU-SERS, YOUNG, CADSS and BPRS-12.

DRUGKetamine

(0,75 mg/kg) saline solution (15 mg) Escitalopram (5 mg) Aripiprazole

Sponsors

University of Sao Paulo
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Intervention model description

Subjects will receive IM ketamine or IM saline applications as randomized. Applications will occur three times a week. It will be 4 weeks of IM application (12 initial applications). Injections will occur into the subjects' glutes (0.75 mg / kg). The ketamine group will use 2 placebo tablets and the parallel group escitalopram 15 mg and aripiprazole 5 mg. Thereafter, participants will receive weekly ketamine doses over 6 months as maintenance treatment. Research members will be submitted to Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM for diagnostic categorization and will be evaluated from other scales. Vital signs will be checked continuously for a period of 2 hours with each infusion. Patients will be observed in a quiet, comfortable room and subjected to medical monitoring for 2 hours. They will leave the environment in the company of a competent adult.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Diagnosis of TRD, according to clinical evaluation and confirmed by SCID-IV (Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM); 2. Moderate to severe intensity of the disease; 3. Female patients in fertile conditions should be using a clinically accepted contraceptive method (oral contraceptive and/or condom); a. Blood test will be requested at the diagnostic stage and in case of clinical doubt as to the patient's gestational status, 4. Literate and able to understand the tasks requested; 5. With clinical comorbidities, however compensated; 6. Patients and/or legal representatives should understand the nature of the study and sign the Informed Consent Form.

Exclusion criteria

1. Imminent risk of suicide; 2. Patients with psychoactive substance dependence; 3. Intellectual deficit and psychotic symptoms; 4. Bipolar spectrum disorders and other primary psychiatric diagnoses; 5. Allergic to ketamine; 6. Glaucoma; 7. Treatment with reversible MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) in the week prior to visit 0; 8. Treatment with irreversible MAOI in two weeks prior to visit 0; 9. Fluoxetine treatment within 4 weeks prior to visit 0; 10. Treatment with others antidepressants; 11. Treatment with antipsychotics, lithium, benzodiazepines or other psychotropic drugs within 7 days prior to visit 0; a. Lorazepam and zolpidem may be used; 12. Patients who become pregnant will be excluded from the study and referred for obstetric care.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in depressive symptoms3 times a week in once month (Phase II)Montomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (\[0-60\] higher scores: worse outcome). No improvement: MADRS ≤ 25% Partial response: MADRS ≥ 25% and \< 50% Response: MADRS ≥ 50% Remission: MADRS ≤10

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Heart rate (HR [bpm]).3 times a week in once month (Fase II) and once a week in six months (Phase III)Anormal HR \<60 bpm or \>100 bpm.
Depression symptomsThrough study completion, an average of 1 year.Hamiltom Depression Ratins Scale (HAM-D \[0-50\] higher scores: worse outcome).
Clinical impressions-SThrough study completion, an average of 1 year.Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI \[0-7\] higher scores: worse outcome).
Clinical impressions-IThrough study completion, an average of 1 year.Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI \[0-7\] higher scores: worse outcome).
Blood Pressure (BP [mmHg]).3 times a week in once month (Fase II) and once a week in six months (Phase III)BP low \<90/60 (systolic/diastolic) mmHg and high \>140/90 mmHg ( (systolic/diastolic).
Digital pulse oximetry (%).3 times a week in once month (Fase II) and once a week in six months (Phase III)Low oxygen saturation \<95%.
Respiratory rate (RR [cycles/min])3 times a week in once month (Fase II) and once a week in six months (Phase III)Anormal RR \<10 cycles/min or \>20 cycles/min.
Suicide risk 1Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (item 10 \[0-6\] higher scores: worse outcome).
Suicide risk 2Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (item 3 \[0-4\] higher scores: worse outcome).
General side effects3 times a week in once month (Phase II) and once a week in six months (Phase III)Ugvalg for Kliniske Undersgelser-Side Effect Rating Scale (UKU-SERS \[48 specific symptoms).
Hypo/maniac symptoms3 times a week in once month (Phase II) and once a week in six months (Phase III)Young Mania Rating Scale (YOUNG \[0-58\] higher scores: worse outcome).
Dissociative symptoms3 times a week in once month (Phase II) and once a week in six months (Phase III)Clinician-Administered Dissociative State Scale (CADSS \[0-108\] higher scores: worse outcome)
Psychotic symptoms3 times a week in once month (Phase II) and once a week in six months (Phase III)Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (item 12 \[0-6\] higher scores: worse outcome).
Depression thoughtsThrough study completion, an average of 1 year.Depression Thoughts Scale (EPD \[1-78\] higher scores: worse outcome)
Stimate intelligence quocientThrough study completion, an average of 1 year.Wechsler Abreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI \[70-160 percentille\] higher scores: better outcomes).
Intelligence quocientThrough study completion, an average of 1 year.Wechsler Scale of Intelligence (WAIS III \[70-155 percentille\] higher scores: better outcomes).
AttentionThrough study completion, an average of 1 year.Trial Making Test (5-95 percentille, higher scores: better outcomes).
MemoryThrough study completion, an average of 1 year.Rey figures (10-100 percentille, higher scores: better outcomes)
Executive functions 1Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Wisconsin Test (50-\>80 score, higher scores: better outcomes).
Executive functions 2Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Stroop Color Word Test (5-95 percentille, higher scores: better outcomes)
Verbal fluency 1Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Verbal Fluency Test (FAS \[10-90 percentille\], higher scores: better outcomes))
Verbal fluency 2Through study completion, an average of 1 year.The Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT \[5-95 percentille\], higher scores: better outcomes).
Functional recovery 1Through study completion, an average of 1 year.World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-brief \[4 domains, 26 questions higher scores: better outcome\]).
Functional recovery 2Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS \[0-30\] higher scores: worse outcome).
Body Mass Index (BMI)Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Weight and height (kg/m2).
Clinical and psychiatric features 1Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Disease intensity (HAM-D \[% of patients\], moderate or severe)
Clinical and psychiatric features 2Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Number of episodes (questionnaire \[incidence\])
Clinical and psychiatric features 3Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Current episode duration (questionnaire \[years\])
Clinical and psychiatric features 4Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Suicide attempts (questionnaire \[% of pacients\])
Clinical and psychiatric features 5Through study completion, an average of 1 year.History of physical abuse (questionnaire \[% of pacients\])
Clinical and psychiatric features 6Through study completion, an average of 1 year.History of sexual abuse (questionnaire \[% of pacients\])
Clinical and psychiatric features 7Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Psychiatric hospitalizations (questionnaire \[% of pacients\])
Clinical and psychiatric features 8Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Clinical comorbidities (questionnaire \[% of patients\]).
Clinical and psychiatric features 9Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Family history of depression (questionnaire \[% of patients\])
Clinical and psychiatric features 10Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Family history of bipolar disorders (questionnaire \[% of patients)
Clinical and psychiatric features 11Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Family history of other mental disorders (questionnaire \[% of patients\]).
Epidemiological features 1Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Age (questionnaire \[years\]).
Epidemiological features 2Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Gender (questionnaire \[% of patients\]; male/female)
Epidemiological features 3Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Marital status (questionnaire \[% of patients\] single, married, separated, divorced or widower).
Epidemiological features 4Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Ethnicity (questionnaire \[% of patients\])
Electrocardiographic monitoring3 times a week in once month (Fase II) and once a week in six months (Phase III)P wave, PR interval, QRS complex, J-point, ST segment, T wave, Corrected QT interval and U wave Rhythm (irregular rhythm: worse outcome).
Epidemiological features 6Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Occupation (questionnaire \[% of patients\])
Epidemiological features 7Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Education (questionnaire \[years\])
Epidemiological features 8Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Individual income (questionnaire \[dollars\]).
Epidemiological features 9Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Family income (questionnaire \[dollars\]).
Epidemiological features 5Through study completion, an average of 1 year.Religion (questionnaire \[% of patients\] protestant, pentecostal or neopentecostal, spiritism, afro-brazilian, no religion or atheism and others\]).

Countries

Brazil

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 11, 2026