Ketamine as an adjunctive therapy for major depression - a randomised controlled pragmatic pilot trial (Karma-Dep Trial)
HRB Open Research December 16, 2020 B. Gallagher, Meabh Foley, C. Slattery et al. 6 citations
A pilot trial tested four once-weekly ketamine infusions added to usual inpatient care for depression. Ketamine, which blocks the NMDA receptor and targets glutamate, was compared with midazolam. Among 25 hospitalized participants, there were no major differences in depression scores between the ketamine and midazolam groups. The infusions were generally safe and well tolerated. The trial suggests that a larger definitive trial of adjunctive ketamine is feasible.