The goals of this study are: 1) to investigate the efficacy of combining ketamine with intensive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to sustain the antidepressant effects of ketamine; and 2) to determine ketamine's delayed effects on learning and memory, and to explore the relationship between any ketamine-induced changes in learning and memory and duration of antidepressant efficacy, with and without CBT augmentation.
Randomised, single-blind (outcomes assessor) parallel-group trial of CBT versus psychoeducation following clinical ketamine in treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Participants who responded to clinical ketamine (≥50% reduction on MADRS) were randomised to receive either 16 CBT sessions over 14 weeks or psychoeducation, while remaining on standard medications.
Primary aims were to assess whether intensive CBT sustains ketamine's antidepressant effects and to evaluate ketamine's delayed effects on learning and memory and their relation to treatment durability.
Sixteen CBT sessions over 14 weeks delivered after clinical ketamine; participants remain on standard antidepressant medication.
CBT plus standard antidepressant medication following clinical ketamine treatment
Psychoeducational sessions over 14 weeks plus standard antidepressant medication delivered after clinical ketamine.
Psychoeducation plus standard antidepressant medication following clinical ketamine treatment