Ketamine as an Anaesthetic Agent in Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2012-10-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Research into the mechanisms underlying memory impairment in ECT suggests that its development may be prevented by the administration of certain medications at the time of ECT treatment. For example there are reasons to believe that ketamine, also used as an anaesthetic agent, may have such protective properties.

In this clinical study patients undergoing a course of ECT will be offered the opportunity to receive a small dose of ketamine (or a placebo) as part of their anaesthetic at the time of ECT treatment. Mood changes and any memory changes will be evaluated to see if the subjects who received ketamine had less memory side effects than those who did not, while still improving their depression.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Northside Clinic, Australia
• Collaborators: Wesley Hospitals; Wesley Mission
• Treatments: Anesthetics; Ketamine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Satisfy DSM-IV-TR criteria for Major Depressive Episode

• 18 years or over

• Does not have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, rapid cycling bipolar disorder, or current psychotic symptoms

• No known sensitivity to ketamine

• No ECT in the last 3 months

• No drug or alcohol abuse in the last 12 months

• Able to give informed consent

• Score at least 24 on Mini Mental State Examination