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CompletedPhase 1 / Phase 2Results posted

Ketamine for the Rapid Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder

NCT02461927 · VA Office of Research and Development

Closed to entry
Status
Not accepting participants
Phase 1 / Phase 2
Phase
65
Target enrolment
1
Study sites
1 US states

What it is testing

Summary

The investigators will compare 3 treatment groups (ketamine plus naltrexone vs. ketamine alone vs. placebo) for treating major depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) in an 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subjects trial. First, prior to the double-blind trial, the investigators will conduct an open-label trial that will include 5 patients with comorbid MDD and AUD to test safety and efficacy of repeated ketamine treatment (0.5 mg/kg; once a week for 4 weeks; a total of 4 ketamine infusions) with a follow-up of 4 weeks. Second, after reviewing the safety and efficacy of repeated ketamine treatment from the open-label trial, the investigators will conduct an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that will include 60 patients with comorbid MDD and AUD to test safety and efficacy of repeated ketamine treatment (0.5 mg/kg; once a week for 4 weeks; a total of 4 ketamine infusions) plus naltrexone with a follow-up of 4 weeks. The 4-month follow-up session will also occur.

Summary as written by the trial’s own sponsor and published on ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. It is the sponsor’s description, reproduced unedited, not an assessment by this site.

What counts as success

Primary outcome measures

  • Number of Participants With 50% or Greater Improvement in MADRS Scores From Baseline

    Measured over Day 21 (after 4th infusion, 240 minutes)

  • Rate of Complete Abstinence From Alcohol

    Measured over Day 28

A trial succeeds or fails on its primary outcome, declared in advance. Everything else it reports is secondary by definition.

Who can take part

Eligibility, as published

21 Years to 65 Years
Ages
All
Sex
Not accepted
Healthy volunteers
Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female veterans and civilians, 21-65 years old * Current major depressive disorder without psychotic features by DSM-5 (antidepressant regimens can be allowed and changed during the trial) * Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) 20 or higher * A minimum of 4 of 11 current alcohol use disorder symptoms by DSM-5 * Heavy drinking at least 4 times in the past month ('heavy drinking' defined as 5 standard drinks per day for men and 4 standard drinks per day for women * Able to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Current substance use disorder by DSM-5 in the past 3 months (except alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis) * Current or past history of psychotic features or psychotic disorder * Current dementia * Current uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP \> 170 mm Hg or diastolic BP \> 100 mm Hg) * Unstable medical condition or allergy to ketamine, midazolam, naltrexone, or lorazepam---clinically determined by a physician * Imminent suicidal or homicidal risk * Pregnant or nursing women, positive pregnancy test, or inadequate birth control methods in women of childbearing potential * Positive opioid or illicit drug screen test (except marijuana) * Opioid use within 10 days prior to study medication (injectable naltrexone) or risks for opioid use during the study * Liver enzymes that are three times higher than the upper limit of normal * Current use of benzodiazepine * Acute narrow-angle glaucoma * Severe sleep apnea---clinically determined by a physician

Where

1 study site

FacilityCityRegionCountry
VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CTWest HavenConnecticutUnited States

On the registry

Contact the trial directly

This site does not enrol anyone and is not involved in this trial. To ask about taking part, use the sponsor’s own contact details on the official registry record, which is also where the most current version of everything above lives.

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NCT02461927 on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Last updated in the registry 2025-04-10. Registry records change; this page reflects the data build of 2026-08-25.

Related

Where this trial sits