Non-suicidal self-injuries (NSSI) is a deliberate harm a person causes directly to their body, resulting in structural or functional damage, without suicidal ideation. This behavior is related to unbearable internal stress, thoughts, or mental pain, which NSSI assists in dismantling. To date, there is no generally approved therapy that assists in lowering NSSI. Ketamine is a sedative drug, presently at the focus of psychopharmacologic research, which was found to improve depression, when taken orally, and lower suicidal ideation, when given intravenously. Our aim is to assess the efficiency of intravenous ketamine in decreasing NSSI symptomology in women with a history of childhood sexual abuse presenting with such behavior. Participants will be recruited among hospitalized patients from the Tel-Aviv Medical Central psychiatric ward, who will present with either NSSI urges or behavior. The study design is a randomized control, double blind trial. Each patient will be assessed before, during, and after the trial by physical examination, blood tests and questionnaires. The patients will be randomized into research group (treated by ketamine and midazolam intravenously) or control group (treated intravenously via midazolam only). Our hypothesis is that treatment by intravenous ketamine will lower NSSI symptomology, and enable optimal treatment while being hospitalized.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
30
Psychiatric Service, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
Tel Aviv, Israel
RECRUITINGClinical measures - non suicidal self injuries symptoms
Change in non suicidal self injuries symptoms will be measured by Brief Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment (BNSSI), which assess the quality of self injuries (method of injury, time since last injury, causes of injury, motivation of self injury and bodily areas where injuries are most common).
Time frame: Four days prior to 1st treatment; after each intervention: 1 hour, 4 hours, 24 hours; next intervention will take place 3 days after (4 interventions altogether); 3 weeks post last intervention.
Clinical measures - biomarkers related to ketamine treatment - IL-6
Changes in specific biomarkers as a result of ketamine treatment: interleukin 6 (IL-6).
Time frame: Four days prior to 1st treatment; 1 hour after 2nd intervention; 7 days later, 1 hour after 4th intervention; 3 weeks post last intervention.
Clinical measures - biomarkers related to ketamine treatment - hsCRP
Changes in specific biomarkers as a result of ketamine treatment: high sensitive C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP).
Time frame: Four days prior to 1st treatment; 1 hour after 2nd intervention; 7 days later, 1 hour after 4th intervention; 3 weeks post last intervention.
Clinical measures - biomarkers related to ketamine treatment - BDNF
Changes in specific biomarkers as a result of ketamine treatment - Brain Dendritic Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).
Time frame: Four days prior to 1st treatment; 1 hour after 2nd intervention; 7 days later, 1 hour after 4th intervention; 3 weeks post last intervention.
Self reported questionnaires - depressive symptoms
Changes in depressive symptoms will be measured by Back Depression Inventory (BDI). Score scale from 1 to 40 points, higher score means more severe depression.
Time frame: BDI will be taken four days prior to 1st treatment; 1 hour after 2nd intervention; 7 days later, 1 hour after 4th intervention; 3 weeks post last intervention.
Self reported questionnaires - anxiety symptoms
Changes in anxiety symptoms will be measured by Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21 Items). Score scale from 0 to 63 points, higher score means more severe anxiety symptoms.
Time frame: DASS-21 will be taken four days prior to 1st treatment; 3 weeks post last intervention.
Self reported questionnaires - Suicidal ideation
Changes in suicidal ideation will be measured by Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). This questionnaire assess severity of suicidal ideation, attempts and outcomes of attempted suicide.
Time frame: C-SSRS will be taken four days prior to 1st treatment.
Self reported questionnaires - Suicidal ideation
Changes in suicidal ideation will be measured by Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI). Score scale from 0 to 38 points, higher score means increased severity of suicidal ideation.
Time frame: SSI will be taken four days prior to 1st treatment; 1 hour after 2nd intervention; 7 days later, 1 hour after 4th intervention; 3 weeks post last intervention.
Self reported questionnaires - impulsivity
Changes in impulsive behavior will be measured by Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). This questionnaire assess impulsive behavior, with 30 items, including motor, attention and non-planning contributors. The factors are scored directly and reversibly, hence each factor assessed independently.
Time frame: BIS-11 will be taken four days prior to 1st treatment four days; 3 weeks post last intervention.
Self reported questionnaires - well being
Patients well being will be measured by Well-Being Index (WHO 5). Higher score means greater well being.
Time frame: WHO-5 will be taken four days prior to 1st treatment; 4 hour after 2nd intervention; 7 days later, 4 hour after 4th intervention; 3 weeks post last intervention.
Self reported questionnaires - Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
During the treatments, there will be an on going assessment by visual analogue scale, composed of items regarding symptomatology of non suicidal self-injuries, suicidality, Depression and anxiety.
Time frame: VAS will be after each intervention: 1 hour, 4 hours, 24 hours; next intervention will take place 3 days after (4 interventions altogether).
Clinical measures - adverse effects
During the treatments, the patient will be assessed for adverse effects of the infusion by ketamine side effects scale, including physical symptoms and psychotic symptoms.
Time frame: Adverse effects questionnaire will be taken after each intervention: 1 hour, 4 hours; next intervention will take place 3 days after (4 interventions altogether).
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