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RecruitingPhase 1

Feasibility and Safety of Ketamine for Suicidal Patients in the Emergency Department

Feasibility and Safety of Single Dose Ketamine for Acutely Suicidal Patients in the Emergency Department

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 65 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: Questionnaires

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
  • "Surveys will be administered at times 0, 2 hours, 24 hours, and 72 hours to assess depressive and suicidal symptoms."
  • "ED providers and nursing staff will be asked to complete a short survey assessing ease of use and feasibility for ED administration for this purpose."
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 whether low-dose ketamine can be safely and practically used for adults ages 18–65 who come to the emergency department with suicidal thoughts. Ketamine is given through a vein. Patients must need hospital mental health care.

There is currently no readily available pharmacologic intervention for suicidal ideation, a true psychiatric emergency, in the Emergency Department (ED). Investigators aim to trial low-dose, intravenous ketamine, a drug with well-established use in treatment-resistant depression, for patients who present to the ED with suicidal ideation.

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

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Have current suicidal thoughts with intent to act, as shown by a “yes” answer to question 4 or 5 on the study’s suicide screening tool.
  • Need hospital care for suicidal thoughts or actions, based on a medical interview and observation.
  • Be accepted for mental health care at the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Strawberry Hill campus.
  • Be fully alert, with a Glasgow Coma Score of 15.
  • Be 18–65 years old.

Who can't join

  • Have current or past psychosis, such as seeing or hearing things that are not there.
  • Have symptoms of mania or hypomania—unusually high energy or mood—now or in the past 4 weeks, with a score of 12 or higher on the study’s rating scale.
  • Have a history of problem ketamine use, have used ketamine 8 or more times in your life, or have had an allergy, intolerance, or bad reaction to it.
  • Have had a liver transplant, or have a current medical problem that needs a hospital medical unit.
  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Are in prison or cannot give consent to join.
  • Have a positive urine drug test or blood alcohol test.
  • Have blood pressure with a top number above 160 or below 90, or a bottom number above 100 before ketamine; or the treating doctor decides the study is not a good fit, such as because of a medical condition, procedure, or medicine.

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

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Acutely Suicidality ("yes" answer to any of items 4 or 5 on C-SSRS "Suicidal Ideation" category) * Require inpatient stabilization for SI or actions based on clinical observation and interview * Are accepted for psychiatric stabilization at the University of Kansas Medical Center's Strawberry Hill campus * Have a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 15 * Age 18-65 Exclusion Criteria: * Current or past history of psychosis * Current or recent (past 4 weeks) symptoms of mania/hypomania as defined by Young Mania Rating Scale (YRMS) score of 12 or greater * History of ketamine use disorder * History of liver transplant * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Imprisonment or inability to consent * Positive urine drug screen or serum alcohol level * Hypertension (SBP \> 160 or DBP \> 100 before administration of ketamine) * Hypotension (SBP \< 90) * Presence of acute medical condition requiring admission to medical service * Allergy, intolerance, or previous adverse reaction to ketamine * Patient has 8+ lifetime ketamine exposures * The treating physician determines that the patient is not a good candidate for the study (e.g. medical condition/procedure, medication that would contradindicate ketamine treatment)

Study sites (2)

KS