The purpose of this study is to research the effects of ketamine on brain function in
patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). To study brain activity related to emotion,
the study team will use a technology called functional MRI (fMRI), which is a method for
evaluating the flow of blood in the brain using a powerful magnet. fMRI does not involve
exposure to radiation.
Patients will be shown a sample of images on a computer screen designed to bring about an
emotional reaction. The MRI machine will then take a number of pictures of your head. By
computer analysis, this machine is able to create a picture of your brain's activity. There
are several tasks during scanning that involve looking at various images that represent
different emotions, and the study team will be monitoring brain activity during these tasks.
Patients will be scanned before and 24 hours after receiving ketamine to analyze treatments
effects. These scans are compared to depressed patients who did not receive ketamine, as
well as to healthy controls.