Open-label pilot study (n=14) assessing IV ketamine (0.5 mg/kg over 45 min; twice weekly for 3 weeks) as augmentation for chronic suicidal ideation in severe treatment-resistant depression.
This open-label pilot evaluates the feasibility, safety, tolerability, efficacy and duration of IV ketamine as augmentation to existing antidepressant regimens in patients with severe treatment-resistant depression and chronic suicidal ideation.
Participants undergo two weeks of observation, receive ketamine 0.5 mg/kg IV over 45 minutes twice weekly for three weeks (six infusions) with possible escalation to 0.75 mg/kg for non-responders after three infusions, and are followed biweekly for three months.
Outcomes include safety and tolerability measures, feasibility, and depression/suicidality assessments to determine duration of antidepressant effect when used as augmentation.
Open-label augmentation with IV ketamine 0.5 mg/kg, twice weekly for 3 weeks (6 infusions); non-responders may escalate to 0.75 mg/kg after 3 infusions.
Infusion over 45 minutes; non-responders may escalate to 0.75 mg/kg after 3 infusions.