This project aims to evaluate the potential rapid and sustained antisuicidal and antidepressant effects of a single intranasal dose of ketamine in inpatients during a mood episode in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Bipolar Disorder (BD) with or without comorbid recent abuse of alcohol.
Clinicians have a limited ability to predict imminent suicidal behaviour and efficacious treatments are not available to treat suicidal patients; rapid-acting treatments are therefore needed. This study tests whether a single intranasal dose of ketamine produces rapid and sustained reductions in suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in inpatients with MDD or BD, with or without recent alcohol abuse.
Outcomes include measures of suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, and exploration of mediators or moderators of response; results may have substantial public-health implications if intranasal ketamine demonstrates antisuicidal efficacy.
Intranasal ketamine, 50 mg total (5×10 mg applications) delivered over 15 minutes; single dose.
5 intranasal applications (100 μl each) over 15 minutes; dose range reported 0.5–1 mg/kg
Intranasal saline placebo (5 applications)
Saline; 5 intranasal applications (100 μl each) over 15 minutes