Multiple IV Ketamine Infusions for Major Depressive Disorder: Open-Label Study (Zheng 2019, Guangzhou Brain Hospital)

Open-label single-arm clinical study (J Psychopharmacol 2019 Apr; Zheng W, Zhou YL, Liu WJ, Wang CY; Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China; PMID 30789302). Enrolled Nov 2016 – Dec 2017. Participants: adults 18–65 with DSM-5 MDD (confirmed by two psychiatrists), HAMD-17 ≥17, and either suicidal ideation (SSI-part 1 ≥2) or TRD (≥2 failed adequate antidepressant trials in current episode). No control arm, no randomisation. Intervention: six IV ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg in 40 mL saline, 40 min infusion pump) on Mon/Wed/Fri over 12 days; concomitant psychotropics continued at stable dose. Co-primary outcomes: MADRS response (≥50% reduction) and remission (MADRS ≤10) at 24 hours after sixth infusion. ITT analysis with SPSS v.24. Methods state registration in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR); registration number not reported in paper text or PubMed XML DataBankList.