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Home/Research/Ketamine/Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Ketamine for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

11 papers and 4 clinical trials exploring ketamine as a treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd).

CompoundArylcyclohexylamine

Ketamine

A dissociative anesthetic with rapid-acting antidepressant properties, widely used in clinical settings for mood and pain disorders.

Full Ketamine profile
IndicationAbout 1-2% of the population worldwide.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Recent research indicates that psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, are emerging as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Early clinical trials demonstrate promising results regarding their efficacy and safety, paving the way for future studies in this field.

Full Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) profile

Academic Research

11 papers
Open Accessindividual

Ketamine for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: Double-blind active-controlled crossover study

In a randomised double‑blind active‑controlled crossover study of 12 patients with severe treatment‑resistant OCD, intramuscular racemic ketamine (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) produced greater, dose‑related reductions in Y‑BOCS scores than IM fentanyl that were maximal at 1–2 hours and showed separation out to 168 hours. Ketamine was associated with short‑term dissociative and cardiovascular effects and two dropouts for poor tolerability, and the authors conclude IM ketamine shows preliminary efficacy but requires further work to define optimal dosing and longer‑term use.

Published
November 28, 2024
Journal
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors
Beaglehole, B., Glue, P., Neehoff, S., Shadli, S., Mcnaughton, N., Kimber, B., Muirhead, C., De Bie, A., Day-Brown, R., Hughes-Medlicott, N. J.
Open Accessmeta

Ketamine as a Novel Psychopharmacotherapy for Eating Disorders: Evidence and Future Directions

This review (2022) explores the current evidence and future directions for using ketamine to treat eating disorders (EDs). Potential mechanisms of action, the role of psychotherapy and limitations are discussed.

Published
February 11, 2022
Journal
Brain Sciences
Authors
Ragnhildstveit, A., Slayton, M., Jackson, L. K., Brendle, M., Ahuja, S., Holle, W., Moore, C., Sollars, K., Seli, P., Robison, R.
Open Accessmeta

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of ketamine in the treatment of refractory anxiety spectrum disorders

This meta-analysis (2021) assessed the literature regarding the possibilities of using ketamine to treat anxiety disorders. Six RCTs investigating various disorders were included. Ketamine was associated with treatment response for social anxiety disorder but not for PTSD. Doses of >0.5 mg/kg were associated with a greater reduction in scores of anxiety and these anxiolytic effects could be sustained.

Published
December 15, 2021
Journal
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
Authors
Whittaker, E., Dadabayev, A. R., Joshi, S. A., Glue, P.
Open Accessmeta

Therapeutic Potentials of Ketamine and Esketamine in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Eating Disorders (ED): A Review of the Current Literature

This review (2021, s=30) investigates the use of ketamine for OCD, addiction (SUD), and eating disorders (ED) and finds that glutamatergic neurotransmission dysregulation underlies these domains. In this area, ketamine can be helpful.

Published
July 27, 2021
Journal
Brain Sciences
Authors
Martinotti, G., Pettorruso, M.
Paywallindividual

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD Related to Racial Discrimination

This case study of ketamine (4x) in combination with psychotherapy (mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, MBCT) describes how it was used to treat PTSD symptoms. The study shows initial success, but also remission at 6-month follow-up.

Published
February 7, 2021
Journal
Clinical Case Studies
Authors
Halstead, M., Reed, S., Krause, R., Aprn-Bc, Williams, M. T.
Open Accessindividual

Association of Combined Naltrexone and Ketamine With Depressive Symptoms in a Case series of Patients With Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder

This open-label pilot study (n=5) investigated the use of naltrexone pretreatment (380 mg) with ketamine infusions (35mg/70kg, 4 infusions over 4 weeks) for depression and found that it does not interfere with ketamine's antidepressant effects. On the contrary, the study found that it might help in treating co-morbid alcohol use disorder and called for pre-clinical research to further understand these results, also in light of earlier conflicting research.

Published
March 1, 2019
Journal
JAMA Psychiatry
Authors
Yoon, G., Petrakis, I. L., Krystal, J. H.

Clinical Trials

4 trials
RecruitingPhase I/II

Pilot Study of RR-HNK in OCD ((HNKO))

This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=45) will study the safety and efficacy of two dosage levels of intravenous (2R,6R)-Hydroxynorketamine (RR-HNK) in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Started
December 1, 2024
Type
interventional
Blinding
triple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT06575075
RecruitingPhase II

Examining Mu Opioid Mechanisms of Ketamine’s Rapid Effects in OCD (MKET2) (MKET2)

This Phase II parallel assignment interventional trial (n=150) is conducted by Stanford University. The study aims to comprehend how ketamine functions in the brain to reduce symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Started
February 24, 2024
Type
interventional
Blinding
quadruple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05940324
RecruitingPhase NA

Ketamine and Stress in OCD

Randomized, double-blind, comparator-controlled crossover trial (n=30) testing low-dose IV ketamine (0.5 mg/kg, 40 min infusion) versus midazolam in patients with OCD at the Medical University of Vienna.

Started
August 1, 2022
Type
interventional
Blinding
triple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05577585
RecruitingPhase NA

University of Iowa Interventional Psychiatry Service Patient Registry

Prospective observational registry (n=1000) collecting biomarker and clinical outcome data from patients receiving ECT, TMS/dTMS, racemic ketamine infusions, or intranasal esketamine for treatment‑resistant depression and OCD.

Started
November 2, 2020
Type
observational
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
NCT04480918

Explore further

Search all Ketamine papers Search all Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) trials Full Ketamine profile Full Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) profile