Clinical TrialParallelTreatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)KetamineKetaminePlaceboPlaceboCompleted

Three-Arm Double-Blind RCT of Ketamine Dose in ECT Anaesthesia for TRD (Zhong 2016, China)

This unregistered trial (n=90) was a three-arm, double-blind, active-controlled study of ketamine as an anaesthetic for treatment-resistant depression in inpatients, which found that higher doses improved remission rates and cognitive outcomes.

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Target Enrollment
90 participants
Study Type
interventional
Design
Randomized, double Blind

Detailed Description

This synthetic trial has been added to our database because a psychedelic paper (about a clinical trial) references this trial, but no (live) registration can be found.

The study investigated the efficacy of different ketamine dosages as anaesthetics during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Ninety inpatients were randomised into three groups: a high-dose ketamine group (0.8 mg/kg), a combination group of subanesthetic ketamine and propofol (0.5 mg/kg each), and a propofol control group (0.8 mg/kg).

Researchers assessed mood improvements using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) and evaluated neuropsychological function through a cognitive battery. The results indicated that the anesthetic dose of ketamine led to earlier mood improvement, higher remission rates, and better preservation of executive cognitive function compared to the propofol and combination groups.

Study Arms & Interventions

Ketamine

experimental

Ketamine (0.8 mg/kg) as anesthesia for each ECT session

Interventions

  • Ketamine0.8 mg/kg
    via IV• Each ECT session, three times per week• 8 doses total

    Administered as anesthesia for the eight ECT treatments.

Ketamine + Propofol

experimental

Ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) plus propofol (0.5 mg/kg) as anesthesia for each ECT session

Interventions

  • Ketamine0.5 mg/kg
    via IV• Each ECT session, three times per week• 8 doses total

    Subanesthetic ketamine dose administered as part of anesthesia for the eight ECT treatments.

  • Placebo0.5 mg/kg
    via IV• Each ECT session, three times per week• 8 doses total

    Propofol co-anesthetic comparator component.

Propofol

active comparator

Propofol (0.8 mg/kg) as anesthesia for each ECT session

Interventions

  • Placebo0.8 mg/kg
    via IV• Each ECT session, three times per week• 8 doses total

    Standard active anesthetic comparator for the eight ECT treatments.

Study Details

Locations

China

Related Publications

PaywallindividualPrimary

Mood and neuropsychological effects of different doses of ketamine in electroconvulsive therapy for treatment-resistant depression

This randomised, double-blind, active placebo-controlled study (n=90) compared the antidepressant efficacy between ketamine (56mg/70kg), the anesthetic propofol (56mg/70kg), and the combination of ketamine (35mg/70kg) plus propofol (35mg/70kg), within the context of pretreatment for electroconvulsive therapy for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Compared to the others, the ketamine group exhibited earlier improvements in depression, better seizure parameters and seizure quality in electroconvulsive therapy, and a lower degree of executive cognitive impairment, which highlights the usefulness of ketamine-assisted electroconvulsive therapy for treating depression.

Published
Journal
Journal of Affective Disorders
Authors
Zhong, X., He, H., Zhang, C., Wang, Z., Jiang, M., Li, Q., Zhang, M., Huang, X.