Maintenance Ketamine Infusions for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression

Last updated: April 25, 2024
Sponsor: Joshua Rosenblat
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

Bipolar Disorder

Depression

Depression (Treatment-resistant)

Treatment

Ketamine Hydrochloride

Clinical Study ID

NCT05339074
21-5963
  • Ages 21-65
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Growing evidence has supported rapid and robust antidepressant effects with subanesthetic doses of intravenous (IV) ketamine for treatment resistant depression (TRD). However, no completed or ongoing RCTs have evaluated the effects of repeated doses of IV ketamine for a homogenous sample of patients with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder depression (TRBD). The primary research goal is to determine the acute antidepressant efficacy, safety and tolerability of repeated sub-anesthetic maintenance doses of IV ketamine in, over a period of twelve weeks. Open-label ketamine infusions will be provided on a flexible schedule (every 2-4 weeks) with flexible dosing (0.5-1.0mg/kg over 40 minutes) titrated to optimize benefits, while minimizing the dosage and frequency over a 12-week extension period. All patients participating in this open-label study will have completed an acute course of infusions in a parent two-site, phase II, double-blinded midazolam-controlled RCT trial. In addition to this acute course of four infusions, a maximum of six infusions will be provided over the 12-week period. Secondary aims include evaluating effects of IV ketamine on suicidal ideations, quality of life, function and duration of effects. Herein, a two-site (University Health Network and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences), single-arm, open label, 12-week extension trial evaluating the effects of flexibly-dosed adjunctive ketamine infusions for TRBD to maintain antidepressant effects in participants who achieved an antidepressant response (MADRS decrease by >50%) or remission (MADRS < 12) following an acute course of four ketamine infusions is proposed. The primary outcome will be Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores, determining by a linear mixed model from baseline to week 12. Secondary outcomes include evaluating response and remission rates, safety, tolerability (including treatment-emergent mania), and effects on suicidality, anxiety, quality of life, function and the duration of effects.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Provide written, voluntary informed consent prior to study enrollment. Substitutedecision makers will not be allowed to consent to study on a potential patient'sbehalf.
  2. Male or female between the age of 21 to 65, inclusive.
  3. Meets DSM-5 criteria for Bipolar I or II Disorder, currently experiencing a MajorDepressive Episode without psychotic features. Diagnosis confirmed by studypsychiatrist at the start of the parent KET-BD randomized clinical trial (RCT).
  4. Patients in the KET-BD RCT 4a. Patients in the ketamine arm of the KET-BD RCT musthave experienced an antidepressant response (i.e. change in MADRS score ≥ 50% at day 14 compared to baseline or Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) = 2 'muchimproved' or 1 'very much improved') or experienced clinical remission of symptoms (i.e., MADRS score < 12 on day 14) 4b. Patients in the midazolam arm of the KET-BD RCTmust present as moderately to severely depressed (MADRS >21) on days 14 and 28 of theparent RCT and must be responders or remitters following four flexibly dosed infusionsover 2 weeks.
  5. Current depressive episode has inadequate response to two or more adequate first-linetreatment trials for bipolar depression, as per the 2018 CANMAT Bipolar DisorderGuidelines. First line treatment trials include the use of lithium, valproate,carbamazepine, lamotrigine and/or any antipsychotic medication. Adequate medicationsconfirmed at the start of the parent KET-BD RCT.
  6. Patient must be receiving guideline-concordant pharmacotherapy without changes in thelast month, including a therapeutic dose of a mood stabilizer.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Currently exhibiting symptoms of mania, hypomania, or mixed state bipolar, asdetermined by the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score greater than 12.
  2. Current symptoms of psychosis or a substance use disorder within the past 3 months.History of psychotic features during a mood episode will not be excluded.
  3. History of neurological disorders (including, but not limited to, uncontrolled seizuredisorder, history of stroke within past 12 months, major head injuries, aneurysmalvascular disease [including thoracic and abdominal aorta, intracranial, and peripheralarterial vessels], arteriovenous malformation, or intracerebral hemorrhage)
  4. Lifetime history of a primary psychotic disorder (including, but not limited to,schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder)
  5. Lifetime history of ketamine use disorder
  6. Presence of active suicidality, requiring involuntary inpatient treatment or recentsuicide attempts within the past 3 months.
  7. Presence of a contraindication to ketamine, including a drug allergy, uncontrolledhypertension (baseline systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg and/or diastolic bloodpressure > 90 mmHg), low or labile blood pressure, myocardial infarction within past 12 months, cardiac arrhythmia, moderate to severe hepatic impairment (i.e., Child-Pughscore of B or C), moderate or severe renal impairment (glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 45 milliliters/min), heart failure, or coronary artery disease
  8. Pregnant or breastfeeding women or women who intend to get pregnant. Patients who aresexually active must agree to use a highly effective contraceptive method (as outlinedin section 5.9).
  9. Use of prohibited concomitant medications, including other forms of ketamine oresketamine, benzodiazepines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, stimulants, medical orrecreational cannabis of any form.
  10. Patients in the ketamine-arm of the parent RCT, that did not reasonably tolerate 4infusions of flexibly-dosed ketamine, as determined by the investigator and/or patient

Study Design

Total Participants: 60
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: Ketamine Hydrochloride
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
August 11, 2022
Estimated Completion Date:
February 28, 2026

Connect with a study center

  • Canadian Rapid Treatment Center of Excellence (CRTCE)

    Mississauga, Ontario L5C 4E7
    Canada

    Site Not Available

  • Toronto General Hospital

    Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4
    Canada

    Active - Recruiting

  • Toronto Western Hospital

    Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8
    Canada

    Active - Recruiting

  • Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences

    Whitby, Ontario L1N 5S9
    Canada

    Active - Recruiting

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