Ketamine Treatment for PTSD and MDD in TBI
Examining the Efficacy and Safety of Subanesthetic Ketamine on Depression and Post-traumatic Stress Among Veterans With Mild and Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury
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 75 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
- "During participation, subjects will be interviewed, have lab tests, and complete rating scales, and questionnaires."
- 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
The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the use of sedative ketamine to treat depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Veterans with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Efficacy of ketamine to reduce symptoms of depression and/or PTSD * Safety of ketamine to treat depression and/or PTSD in TBI Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either ketamine or midazolam (active placebo) twice a week for 3 weeks. During participation, subjects will be interviewed, have lab tests, and complete rating scales, and questionnaires.
Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.
Eligibility
Official eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Willingness/able to sign informed consent. * Able to read and write in English. * Male or female Veterans aged 18-55 years old. * Remote history of TBI mild-moderate that is ≥12 weeks post-injury (chronic period) that met at minimum the 2021 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management and Rehabilitation of Post-Acute Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (i.e., new onset or worsening of at least one of the following clinical signs immediately following the event: loss or decreased of consciousness, period of posttraumatic amnesia, period of being dazed and confused, and neurologic deficits). * Lifetime history of treatment resistance to at least one adequate trial of an antidepressant as determined by the Massachusetts General Hospital Antidepressant Treatment History Questionnaire (MGH-ATRQ). * FDA-approved antidepressant, trazodone, atypical neuroleptic, prazosin, or clonidine with stable treatment, as determined by the study clinician, for at least 4 weeks prior to randomization. Following randomization, changes to doses may be allowable at the investigator's discretion Exclusion Criteria: * Ketamine treatment within the last 6 months * Lifetime history of psychosis-related disorder, current episode of mania/hypomania/mixed assessed by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI 7.0 for DSM-5). * History of penetrating head wounds or severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale \<9; loss of consciousness \>24hr; post-traumatic amnesia\>7 days). * Severe substance and/or alcohol use disorder (DSM-5-TR) within six months of initial assessment; presence of illicit drugs (except cannabis) by positive urine toxicology at screening. * Intellectual disability or pervasive developmental disorder; dementia of any type. * Any disorder that, based on the Principal Investigator\'s judgement, would increase risk (e.g., unstable cardiac conditions) or protocol adherence (e.g., severe personality disorder). * For women: pregnancy (confirmed by lab test), initiation of female hormonal treatments within 3 months of screening, or inability/ unwillingness to use a medically accepted contraceptive method during the study. Women who are surgically sterile or have been post-menopausal for at least 1 year will not be excluded * At screening, resting blood pressure (sitting or supine) lower than 90/60 or higher than 150/90, or resting heart rate lower than 45/min or higher than 100/min. * Imminent risk of suicidal/homicidal ideation and/or behavior with intent and/or plan. * Concurrent participation in a cognitive rehabilitation program, however patient will have a TBI clinician involved in directed services. * Subjects on a prohibited medication: monoamine oxidase inhibitors, memantine, long acting benzodiazepines (i.e., Chlordiazepoxide, Diazepam, Flurazepam)
Study sites (1)
MN
- Minneapolis VA Medical Center · Minneapolis, MN 55417Paulo Shiroma, MD · Study contact · 612-467-2264 · paulo.shiroma@va.govPaulo Shiroma, MD · Principal investigatorMore trials in Minneapolis