Ketamine treatment in youth for fast reduction of suicidality and engagement in psychotherapy: A randomized placebo-controlled trial protocol.
Contemporary clinical trials February 1, 2025 Noreen A Reilly-Harrington, Tatiana Falcone, David A Jobes et al.
A randomized controlled trial is testing whether ketamine infusions, compared to placebo, rapidly reduce severe suicidality in youth and young adults (ages 14-30) hospitalized with suicidal ideation or after a suicide attempt. Participants receive up to six treatments of ketamine or placebo while also engaging in Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) sessions, a suicide-focused therapy, starting in the hospital and continuing after discharge. The study enrolls 140 participants and follows them for three months. The hypothesis is that ketamine will produce faster improvement in suicidality, enhance engagement in CAMS, and reduce suicide attempts, emergency visits, and readmissions compared to placebo.