Ketamine for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

2 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

2 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., Day-Brown, R., de Bie, A., Glue, P., Hughes-Medlicott, N. J., Kimber, B., McNaughton, N., Muirhead, C., Neehoff, S., Shadli, S. M.

Open Accessindividual

In vivo effects of ketamine on glutamate-glutamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid in obsessive-compulsive disorder: proof of concept

This randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover trial study (n=17) investigates concurrent neurochemical effects of ketamine on glutamate-glutamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It suggested that models of OCD pathology should examine the role of GABAergic abnormalities in OCD symptomatology.

Published: August 1, 2015
Journal: Psychiatry Research
Authors: Flood, P., Hunter, L., Kegeles, L. S., Levinson, A., Mao, X., Milak, M. S., Moore, H., Ogden, R. T., Rodriguez, C. I., Shungu, D. C., Simpson, H. B., Vermes, D., Xie, S.

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