This randomised controlled parallel group Phase II trial (n=12) evaluated the safety and efficacy of ketamine for spider phobia using 35mg/70kg ketamine.
We hypothesise that Ketamine could be used therapeutically to manage phobic situations that interfere with health or business activities (e.g. needle phobic patients getting medical/dental procedures; aeroplane/flight phobic patients needing to travel by air).
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of oral doses of ketamine and the active control, midazolam, on anxiety ratings in participants with spider phobia.
Images of spiders will be presented to participants via a virtual reality (VR) headset. 5 spider encounters will be presented that vary in terms of size, activity level and proximity of the VR spider to the participant.
Changes in anxiety and phobia ratings, heart rate and skin response will be obtained pre-dose and immediately after each VR spider exposure.