RecruitingPhase 1

Alpha-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-4- Isoxazole Propionic Acid Receptor Components of the Anti-Depressant Ketamine Response

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Procedures mentioned: Interviews, Infusions

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "The effects of these drug combinations are assessed via fMRI studies of neural functional connectivity and oxidative metabolism as well as interview and self-report measures on the infusion day and 24 hours later."
  • "Perampanel pre-treatment reduces ketamine-related increases in prefrontal functional connectivity and CMRO2 during ketamine infusion in individuals with treatment-resistant depression. 2."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests how perampanel and ketamine work together in people whose depression has not improved with treatment. It looks at whether certain brain receptors, called AMPA receptors, are needed for ketamine to ease depression.

The proposed study will assess the combined effect of perampanel and ketamine on the anti-depressant response in individuals with treatment resistant depression. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that stimulation of Alpha-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-4- Isoxazole Propionic Acid receptors (AMPAR) is critical to the anti-depressant response of ketamine.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Be right-handed and have major depression confirmed by a study interview, with a depression rating score above 17.
  • Have tried at least one full course of an antidepressant that did not help enough.
  • If you have used ketamine before, it must have helped your depression.
  • Be in treatment outside the study if you receive ketamine. The study may refer you for care.
  • If taking depression medicine or getting talk therapy, have been on the same treatment for at least 4 weeks and plan to continue it during the study.
  • Agree to avoid caffeine, drugs, and alcohol for 1 week before each MRI scan.
  • Not be pregnant or breastfeeding. Women must use an accepted birth control method unless permanently unable to become pregnant or past menopause for at least 1 year.
  • Be able to read and write English and have finished 12th grade or an equal level of schooling.

Who can't join

  • Have suicidal intent, with or without a plan, or be judged at serious risk of suicide.
  • Have a brain or nerve disorder other than migraines, a more-than-mild head injury, or repeated concussions. Ketamine visits cannot occur within 24 hours of a migraine.
  • Currently receive ketamine treatment or use benzodiazepines during the day. Certain other medicines and brain stimulation treatments also require waiting periods before joining.
  • Have psychosis, meaning trouble knowing what is real, except experiences that match a depressed mood during depression; or have a history of intellectual disability. A history of violence needs special study approval.
  • Have a drug or alcohol use disorder within the past 3 months, though some mild alcohol problems may be allowed. Positive drug or breath alcohol tests may also exclude you.
  • Have diabetes needing insulin, poorly controlled diabetes, a history of HIV or hepatitis B, or sensitivity to ketamine or heparin. Other major illnesses, abnormal blood or heart tests, or blood pressure or pulse outside study limits need medical review.
  • Have fear of tight spaces, major vision problems despite correction, or an implanted device or metal that makes MRI unsafe.
  • Have lost or donated more than 500 mL of blood in the past 56 days. Medicines or herbal products that affect the brain taken within 1 week before MRI may also exclude you. Study doctors may exclude you for other reasons.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria Substudy #2: * Right-handed as determined by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory * Current depression as indicated by a score greater than 17 on the full Hamilton Depression Rating Scale * Anti-depressant resistant depressive symptoms, defined by a history of failure of one or more adequate anti-depressant trials * Individuals who have previously received ketamine must have had a positive response. Individuals who report reduced depressive symptoms will be treated as ketamine responders and entered directly into the closed label trial. * Participants will meet DSM-5 Criteria for MDD as determined by the SCID-5 * All participants given ketamine must be engaged in treatment outside of the research protocol. Those who are not currently in treatment may be referred for treatment. * Individuals who are receiving pharmacotherapy for depression must have been receiving the current medication and dose for 4 weeks before randomization. In addition, they should have a plan to continue the current regime of pharmacotherapy for the duration of the trial. * Individuals who are receiving psychotherapy must have been in treatment for four weeks and should have a plan to continue the current regime of psychotherapy for the duration of the trial. * Willing to refrain from caffeine, drug and alcohol use for one week prior to each MRI session * Females will be included if they are not pregnant or breastfeeding and agree to utilize a medically accepted birth control method (to include oral, injectable, or implant birth control, condom, diaphragm with spermicide, intrauterine device, tubal ligation, abstinence, or partner with vasectomy). Women who are surgically sterile or post-menopausal with cessation of menses for at least one year are not required to use birth control. If a woman should become pregnant during the study, she will be excluded from the trial. * Females will receive ketamine during the follicular phase, i.e., in the first week after the start of the menstrual period, if at all possible. If a prospective participant typically has significant menstrual cramps during this entire follicular phase, she will be studied during another part of her cycle. She will be studied during the same part of her cycle for each scan, if possible. * Able to read and write English * Have at least a 12th grade education level or equivalent Exclusion Criteria Substudy #2: * A score on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale in the "intent" or "intent with plan" categories or judged by Dr. Krystal or Dr. Driesen to be at serious risk for suicide. * Neurological disorder excluding migraine headaches or more than mild head injury. Individuals with migraines will not complete any ketamine infusion visits within 24 hours of a migraine. More than mild head injury is indicated by the presence of any of the following: * More than half hour unconsciousness after trauma * More than one hour post-traumatic amnesia * Concussive symptoms such as headache, memory problems, nausea/vomiting, irritability, ringing in the ears, dizziness, balance problems, difficulty concentrating or visual disturbances lasting more than one week after injury. * Concussive symptoms as defined above in the first week after injury causing more than one day impairment in typical duties. * Four or more concussive events of less severity than the above will also be grounds for exclusion. These events would include post-trauma symptoms such as the individual being dazed, seeing stars, unconscious for less than one half hour, or post-traumatic amnesia of less than an hour. * Current therapeutic treatment with ketamine * Current treatment with topiramate, memantine, or barbiturates within two weeks of randomization * Daytime use of benzodiazepines * Current treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors within 4 weeks of randomization * Treatment with a vagal nerve stimulator, ECT or deep brain stimulation within two weeks of randomization * Psychosis other than psychotic experiences congruent with depressed mood during a period of depression * Insulin-dependent diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes that is poorly controlled * Other major medical disorder unless cleared by a study physician * History of violence unless cleared by Dr. Driesen or Dr. Krystal because of extenuating circumstances. For example, an individual whose violent behavior was always coupled with substance abuse and had obtained stable sobriety with no violent incidents or an individual who had received successful pharmacotherapy for impulse control difficulties may be included. * Individual meets criteria for a diagnosis of substance or alcohol use disorder within the three months prior to screening date. Individuals who meet criteria for mild alcohol use disorder within three months prior to screening date may be included in the study at investigator discretion. The diagnosis of mild alcohol use disorder shall be per DSM-5 and involve 2-3 symptoms. The PI's discretion will be based on the symptoms that are reported. The purpose of including individuals with mild alcohol use disorder is to extend recruitment to more individuals who can participate safely in the trial. * A positive on screening urine drug test or, at the study physicians' discretion, on any drug screens given before the scans. * A positive screening breathalyzer test or, at the study physicians' discretion, on any breathalyzer test given before the scans. This applies to all subjects, including those who make criteria for current mild alcohol use disorder. * A 12-lead ECG at screening has clinically significant abnormalities as determined by the physician reading the ECG. * Abnormality on clinical chemistry or hematology examination at the pre-study medical screening. Subjects with laboratory parameters outside the reference range for this age group will only be included if the study physician considers that such findings will not introduce additional risk factors. * History of positive HIV or Hepatitis B * Has received either prescribed or over-the-counter (OTC) centrally active medicine or herbal supplements within the week prior to the MRI scan. Subjects who have taken OTC medication or herbal supplements may still be entered into the study, if, in the opinions of the Principal/Co-Investigator, the medication received will not interfere with the study procedures or compromise safety. * Known sensitivity to ketamine or heparin * Resting blood pressure lower than 85/55 or higher than 140/90, or resting heart rate lower than 45/min or higher than 100/min, unless cleared by study physician. If a subject meets these blood pressure entrance criteria, but is being treated for high blood pressure, the study team will check with the subject's primary care physician or treatment provider to confirm that the subject is stable and normotensive on their current treatment plan. * History of general intellectual disability * History of claustrophobia * Any clinically significant impairment of color vision or visual acuity after correction available in the scanner * Presence of cardiac pacemaker or other electronic device or ferromagnetic metal foreign bodies in vulnerable positions as assessed by a Yale Magnetic Resonance Research Center standard pre-MRI screening questionnaire * Subjects will be advised not to drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 24 hours after completing the infusion. * Donation of blood in excess of 500 mL within 56 days prior to dosing or similar loss of blood due to other causes. * Potential participants may be eliminated at the discretion of Dr. Krystal, Dr. Driesen, or the study physician.

Study sites (1)

CT