A Study to Investigate Evoked Potentials as Markers of Ketamine-induced Cortical Plasticity in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Phase 2TerminatedNCT01957410

Janssen Research & Development, LLC13 enrolled

Overview

To evaluate if somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) obtained with electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) can be used to detect changes in cortical plasticity in responders to a single IV infusion of ketamine as compared to non-responders.

This study will be conducted in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and divided into 2 sequential cohorts. Cohort 1 will be conducted in 12 patients at a single center. For each patient, there will be up to 4 sequential phases: a screening phase of up to 6 weeks, an open-label treatment phase of up to 4 weeks, an optional open-label treatment phase of up to 1 week, and a follow-up phase of up to 1 week (if applicable). Cohort 2 will be conducted in 20 patients and will be a multicenter, double-blind (neither physician nor patient knows the treatment that the patient receives), randomized (the study drug is assigned by chance), placebo-controlled (an inactive substance that is compared with a drug to test whether the drug has a real effect in a clinical trial) design. For each patient, there will be up to 4 sequential phases: a screening phase of up to 6 weeks, a double-blind treatment phase of up to 4 weeks, an optional open-label treatment phase of up to 1 week, and a follow-up phase of up to 1 week (if applicable). The total study duration for each patient will be maximally about 12 weeks. Participant safety will be monitored throughout the study.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder

Interventions

KetamineDRUG

During Cohorts 1 and 2, a single ketamine 0.5 mg/kg dose will be given as a continuous IV infusion over 40 minutes by use of an electronic syringe infusion pump. The predefined dose and infusion rate/duration should not be adjusted. If a patient is unable to tolerate the study medication, the infusion should be stopped. Within 1 week of completion of the open-label treatment phase, participants can receive a single dose of ketamine 0.5 mg/kg administered as an IV infusion over 40 minutes during an optional open-label treatment phase.

PlaceboDRUG

During Cohort 2, a single placebo dose will be given as a continuous IV infusion over 40 minutes by use of an electronic syringe infusion pump. Within 1 week of completion of the double-blind treatment phase, participants can receive a single dose of ketamine 0.5 mg/kg administered as an IV infusion over 40 minutes during an optional open-label treatment phase.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 64 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patient must be medically stable * Patient must meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), without psychotic features, based upon clinical assessment and confirmed by the Mini International Psychiatric Interview (MINI) * Patient must have had an inadequate response to at least 2 antidepressants, one of which is in the current episode of depression * Patient must have an Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology 30-item Clinician-rated (IDS-C30) total score ≥ 34 at Screening and Day -1 * Women must be postmenopausal, surgically sterile, or, if heterosexually active, practicing a highly effective method of birth control * Men who are heterosexually active with a woman of childbearing potential must agree to use a double barrier method of birth control and to not donate sperm during the study and for 3 months after receiving the last dose of study drug Exclusion Criteria: * Patient has current signs and/or symptoms of liver or renal insufficiency; significant cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurologic, hematologic, rheumatologic, or metabolic disturbances * Patient has a primary DSM-IV diagnosis of current (active) generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anorexia nervosa, or bulimia nervosa * Patient has a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder, mental retardation, or cluster b personality disorder (e.g., borderline personality disorders, antisocial personality disorder, etc) * Patient has a current or prior diagnosis of a psychotic disorder or MDD with psychosis * Patient has not responded to treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the current episode of depression * Patient has suicidal ideation with intent to act, or has homicidal ideation/intent, during Screening phase per Investigator's clinical judgment * Patient has any significant primary sleep disorder

Locations (1)

Unnamed facility

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Comparison of Ketamine Responders and Ketamine Non-responders in the Change From Baseline in Somatosensory Evoked Potential (SEPs) Amplitudes at 4 Hours Postdose on Day 1

SEPs are the electrical signals generated by the nervous system in response to somatosensory stimuli - typically through electrical stimulation of the median nerve. SEPs are read on the skull with electroencephalography (EEG). SEPs was recorded using a 64-channel EEG system at baseline (predose) and regularly after study drug administration. The change from baseline was calculated as post-baseline value minus baseline value for each participant. Since the number of participants at baseline differ from the number of participants at post-baseline measure (that is \[i.e.\] not all baseline values are paired), the mean change is not equal to the difference between the means at the two time points.

Time frame: Baseline and Day 1 (4 hours postdose)

Comparison of Ketamine Responders and Ketamine Non-responders in the Change From Baseline in Motor Evoked Potential (MEPs) Amplitudes at 4 Hours Postdose on Day 1

MEPs are generated when stimulation of the brain on the motor cortex (with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation \[TMS\]) causes the spinal cord and peripheral muscles to produce neuroelectrical signals. MEPs are typically measured in the hand muscles. The Motor Evoked Response to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS MEPs) was evaluated at baseline and regularly after study drug administration. Intracortical inhibition and facilitation was also evaluated using TMS. A figure-of-eight coil with external loop diameters of 9 cm was used to elicit motor responses in the contralateral first dorsal interosseus.

Time frame: Baseline and Day 1 (4 hours postdose)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.