Major Depressive DisorderPhase 4NCT01260649
N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist (Ketamine) Augmentation of Electroconvulsive Treatment for Severe Major Depression
A Phase 4 study testing ketamine, IV Saline and ECT in people with Major Depressive Disorder, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), is considered the most effective treatment for severe treatment resistant major depressive disorder (MDD), but it requires about 3 weeks of treatments and can cause considerable acute deficits in memory. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Major Depressive Disorder
- What is being tested?
- ketamine, IV Saline and ECT
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 17 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Nov 2010to 1 Nov 2012
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- males and females between the ages of 18-65,
- DSM-IV diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), without psychotic features
- HAM-D-28 score of 20 or higher
- requiring ECT treatment as part of their psychiatric care Comorbid anxiety disorders (OCD, Generalized anxiety, panic disorder) will be allowed as long as the clinician administering the SCID believes that they are not the primary diagnosis.
Who cannot join
- MDD with a score of <20 on the HAM-D 28,
- Other DSM-IV primary diagnoses including major depressive disorder with psychotic features, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, dementia
- any history of psychosis
- substance use disorder (abuse or dependence with active use within the last 6 months), and any lifetime history of ketamine abuse or dependence;
- organic mental disorders;
- seizure disorder or chronic antiepileptic medications;
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- severe or unstable medical illness, including history of closed head injury resulting in loss of consciousness, medical contraindication to anesthesia or to ECT (i.e. recent myocardial infarction, increased intracranial pressure)
- current treatment with memantine
- pregnancy, or females of reproductive age who are not using an accepted method of contraception (birth control pill, IUD, combination of barrier methods).
- known hypersensitivity to ketamine
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
About this study
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), is considered the most effective treatment for severe treatment resistant major depressive disorder (MDD), but it requires about 3 weeks of treatments and can cause considerable acute deficits in memory. It would be a major advance in treatment if ECT could work faster with fewer treatments and result in decrease incidence of memory problems. Ketamine is an excellent candidate for augmentation of ECT because of its acute effects on depression, its short half-life, and its safety profile when given at low doses. Ketamine is given as an infusion and could easily be incorporated into the routine management of patients undergoing ECT, but has never been evaluated prospectively in this context.
The investigators propose to assess the efficacy, feasibility, tolerability and safety of N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist augmentation of ECT using ketamine.
Read the detailed description
Aim #1: To assess the efficacy of ketamine augmentation in reducing time to remission of a major depressive episode (MDE).
Aim #2: To assess the efficacy of ketamine augmentation on ECT-related cognitive side effects.
Aim #3: To assess the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of ketamine augmentation of ECT.
Exploratory aim #4: We propose to assess the patterns of functional connectivity before, during and after ECT using standard clinical EEG to better characterize the effect of ECT and to correlate clinical effects with changes in EEG measurements.
Thirty (30) participants will be recruited over 24 months. Participants will be males and females, ages 18-60, with severe MDD (baseline score HAM_D-28 >= 20) deemed appropriate for ECT treatment by their treating physician, agreeing to receive ECT treatment as part of their clinical care, and able to provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria are any other DSM-IV primary diagnoses including major depressive disorder with psychotic features, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, any history of psychosis, substance use disorder (abuse or dependence with active use within the last 6 months), and any lifetime history of ketamine abuse or dependence, organic mental disorders, seizure disorder or chronic antiepileptic medications, severe or unstable medical illness, pregnancy.
Study procedures: eligible patients will be randomized to a double-blind administration of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) or saline before the first three ECT treatments. Right Unilateral ECT (RUL-ECT) will be administered at 6 times the seizure threshold, using the d'Elia placement of the electrodes. Electroconvulsive therapy will be given 3 times per week, as per standard of care at MGH. Depression severity will be assessed weekly with the HAM-D 28 (the main outcome measure), administered by a clinician blinded to randomization.
The neuropsychological assessment battery is designed to include instruments sensitive to the cognitive impairment associated with depression in general and ECT treatment in particular will be repeated at baseline, at the end of acute treatment series and at 3 months follow-up.
Also patients will undergo repeated EEG monitoring, at baseline after one week of treatment and at follow up with the aim of possibly identifying EEG features associated with response.
- Conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Being tested
- ketamine, IV Saline, ECT, Muscle Relaxant, Anesthetic Agents
- Keywords
- Electroconvulsive treatment, ketamine, Major Depression, Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
- Medical subject headings
- Depressive Disorder, Major
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ketamineDrug
eligible patients will be randomly assigned to a double-blind administration of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) or IV Saline, followed by the routine anesthetic agent and muscle relaxant. ECT will be administered as per standard of care
IV SalineOther
eligible patients will be randomly assigned to a double-blind administration of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) or IV Saline, followed by the routine anesthetic agent and muscle relaxant. ECT will be administered as per standard of care
ECTProcedure or surgery
ECT will be administered as per standard of care
Muscle RelaxantDrug
All participant will receive routine course of muscle relaxant with ECT as per standard of care
Anesthetic AgentsDrug
All participant will receive routine course of anesthetic agents with ECT as per standard of care
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| ketamine | Experimental | ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) followed by anesthetic agent titrated to sedation and succinylcholine titrated to muscle relaxation Right unilateral ECT at 5-6x seizure threshold three times a week Receives: Drug: ketamine; Procedure: ECT; Drug: Muscle Relaxant; Drug: Anesthetic Agents |
| placebo | Placebo comparator | IV saline, followed by anesthestic agent titrated to sedation and succinylcholine titrated to muscle relaxation.
Right unilateral ECT at 5-6x seizure threshold three times a week Receives: Other: IV Saline; Procedure: ECT; Drug: Muscle Relaxant; Drug: Anesthetic Agents |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - 28
HAMD will be administered at every ECT treatment.The HAM D 28 is a 28 item scale with scores ranging from 0 to 83, with 0 being no depression and 83 being high levels of depression symptoms.
The change in HAM S score was determined by the difference of the HAM D score at the last ECT administration and the baseline HAM D score. A negative change score reflects a decreased HAM D score between the first and last ECT administration and therefore a reduction in depressive symptoms.
Measured: baseline, one month
Secondary outcomes (1)
Number of Participants With Cognitive Side Effects
will compare the incidence of participants with memory deficits between groups, as determined by incidents of clinician reported cognitive adverse events
Measured: 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Dec 2010 (estimated)
- Study start1 Nov 2010
- Primary completion26 Oct 2012
- Study completion1 Nov 2012
Why it stopped: lack of funding to cover staff salary (clinician and research coordinator)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Major Depressive DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Massachusetts General HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Cristina Cusin, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01260649
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2010P001672
- Status last verified
- Apr 2017
- First submitted
- 7 Dec 2010
- Last updated
- 22 May 2017
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 May 2017. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist (Ketamine) Augmentation of Electroconvulsive Treatment for Severe Major Depression
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01260649
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2010P001672
- Conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Keywords
- Electroconvulsive treatment, ketamine, Major Depression, Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- TerminatedReason stopped: lack of funding to cover staff salary (clinician and research coordinator)
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Nov 2010 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 26 Oct 2012 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Nov 2012 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 Dec 2010 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 14 Apr 2017
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), is considered the most effective treatment for severe treatment resistant major depressive disorder (MDD), but it requires about 3 weeks of treatments and can cause considerable acute deficits in memory. It would be a major advance in treatment if ECT could work faster with fewer treatments and result in decrease incidence of memory problems. Ketamine is an excellent candidate for augmentation of ECT because of its acute effects on depression, its short half-life, and its safety profile when given at low doses. Ketamine is given as an infusion and could easily be incorporated into the routine management of patients undergoing ECT, but has never been evaluated prospectively in this context.
The investigators propose to assess the efficacy, feasibility, tolerability and safety of N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist augmentation of ECT using ketamine.
Detailed description
Aim #1: To assess the efficacy of ketamine augmentation in reducing time to remission of a major depressive episode (MDE).
Aim #2: To assess the efficacy of ketamine augmentation on ECT-related cognitive side effects.
Aim #3: To assess the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of ketamine augmentation of ECT.
Exploratory aim #4: We propose to assess the patterns of functional connectivity before, during and after ECT using standard clinical EEG to better characterize the effect of ECT and to correlate clinical effects with changes in EEG measurements.
Thirty (30) participants will be recruited over 24 months. Participants will be males and females, ages 18-60, with severe MDD (baseline score HAM_D-28 >= 20) deemed appropriate for ECT treatment by their treating physician, agreeing to receive ECT treatment as part of their clinical care, and able to provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria are any other DSM-IV primary diagnoses including major depressive disorder with psychotic features, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, any history of psychosis, substance use disorder (abuse or dependence with active use within the last 6 months), and any lifetime history of ketamine abuse or dependence, organic mental disorders, seizure disorder or chronic antiepileptic medications, severe or unstable medical illness, pregnancy.
Study procedures: eligible patients will be randomized to a double-blind administration of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) or saline before the first three ECT treatments. Right Unilateral ECT (RUL-ECT) will be administered at 6 times the seizure threshold, using the d'Elia placement of the electrodes. Electroconvulsive therapy will be given 3 times per week, as per standard of care at MGH. Depression severity will be assessed weekly with the HAM-D 28 (the main outcome measure), administered by a clinician blinded to randomization.
The neuropsychological assessment battery is designed to include instruments sensitive to the cognitive impairment associated with depression in general and ECT treatment in particular will be repeated at baseline, at the end of acute treatment series and at 3 months follow-up.
Also patients will undergo repeated EEG monitoring, at baseline after one week of treatment and at follow up with the aim of possibly identifying EEG features associated with response.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| ketamine | Experimental | Drug: ketamine, Procedure: ECT, Drug: Muscle Relaxant, Drug: Anesthetic Agentsketamine (0.5 mg/kg) followed by anesthetic agent titrated to sedation and succinylcholine titrated to muscle relaxation Right unilateral ECT at 5-6x seizure threshold three times a week |
| placebo | Placebo comparator | Other: IV Saline, Procedure: ECT, Drug: Muscle Relaxant, Drug: Anesthetic AgentsIV saline, followed by anesthestic agent titrated to sedation and succinylcholine titrated to muscle relaxation. Right unilateral ECT at 5-6x seizure threshold three times a week |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- males and females between the ages of 18-65,
- DSM-IV diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), without psychotic features
- HAM-D-28 score of 20 or higher
- requiring ECT treatment as part of their psychiatric care Comorbid anxiety disorders (OCD, Generalized anxiety, panic disorder) will be allowed as long as the clinician administering the SCID believes that they are not the primary diagnosis.
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- MDD with a score of <20 on the HAM-D 28,
- Other DSM-IV primary diagnoses including major depressive disorder with psychotic features, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, dementia
- any history of psychosis
- substance use disorder (abuse or dependence with active use within the last 6 months), and any lifetime history of ketamine abuse or dependence;
- organic mental disorders;
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| ketamineeligible patients will be randomly assigned to a double-blind administration of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) or IV Saline, followed by the routine anesthetic agent and muscle relaxant. ECT will be administered as per standard of care | Drug | ketamine |
| IV Salineeligible patients will be randomly assigned to a double-blind administration of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) or IV Saline, followed by the routine anesthetic agent and muscle relaxant. ECT will be administered as per standard of care | Other | placebo |
| ECTECT will be administered as per standard of care | Procedure or surgery | ketamine, placebo |
| Muscle RelaxantAll participant will receive routine course of muscle relaxant with ECT as per standard of care | Drug | ketamine, placebo |
| Anesthetic AgentsAll participant will receive routine course of anesthetic agents with ECT as per standard of care | Drug | ketamine, placebo |
Primary outcome
Change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - 28
Time frame: baseline, one month
HAMD will be administered at every ECT treatment.The HAM D 28 is a 28 item scale with scores ranging from 0 to 83, with 0 being no depression and 83 being high levels of depression symptoms. The change in HAM S score was determined by the difference of the HAM D score at the last ECT administration and the baseline HAM D score. A negative change score reflects a decreased HAM D score between the first and last ECT administration and therefore a reduction in depressive symptoms.
1 secondary outcome
Number of Participants With Cognitive Side Effects
Time frame: 3 months
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 May 2017.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing ketamine, IV Saline and ECT in people with Major Depressive Disorder, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 May 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 14 Apr 2017). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - 28 (time frame: baseline, one month). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 May 2017.