The study is investigating dysfunctions in neurocircuitry in regards to irritability with healthy controls (HC) and individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) by performing MRIs. The MDD group will also be randomized to receive ketamine or midazolam to investigate changes post-treatment in neurocircuitry with regards to irritability.
The proposed study aims to 1 (Aim 1) identify dysfunctions in neurocircuitry that engender irritability, and (Aim 2) determine how changes in neurocircuit function related to change in irritability. We will accomplish Aim 1 with resting-state and frustrative nonreward (FNR) task-based fMRI data from n=30 HCs and n=60 subjects with MDD ((Fig 3). For Aim 2, we will randomize the MDD cohort (n=60; same as Aim 1) to 2 weeks of twice-weekly 40-minutes long intravenous infusion of either ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) or midazolam (0.02 mg/kg) in a double-blind parallel-arm fashion, and by repeating clinical assessments and fMRI scans after the last infusion. The central hypothesis of the proposed study is that striatum is a key hub in the neurocircuitry of irritability, and that treatment-related improvement in irritability is associated with normalization of these neurocircuit functioning.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
165
Subjects with MDD will receive 2 weeks of twice-weekly 40-minutes long IV infusion of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg). Ketamine will be dissolved in 0.9% saline in a total volume of 100 mL and administered with an infusion pump at a constant rate.
Subjects with MDD will receive 2 weeks of twice-weekly 40-minutes long IV infusion of midazolam (0.02 mg/kg). Midazolam will be dissolved in 0.9% saline in a total volume of 100 mL and administered with an infusion pump at a constant rate.
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas, United States
Resting state functional connectivity.
Resting-state functional connectivity between striatum and habenula will be measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in healthy controls and in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). Functional connectivity refers to the standardized correlation between resting state BOLD signal of the striatum and habenula regions of the brain.
Time frame: Baseline
Striatal response to frustrative nonreward (FNR).
Striatal response to frustrative nonreward (FNR) as measured by the BOLD (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent) signal within the striatum region of the brain on a functional MRI behavioral task of FNR in healthy controls and in adults with MDD. BOLD signal is the unit of measure of this outcome.
Time frame: Baseline
Treatment-related change in striatum-habenula functional connectivity.
Striatum-habenula functional connectivity is the standardized correlation between resting state BOLD signal of the striatum and habenula regions of the brain measured on a fMRI. Unit is the standardized correlation ranges from -1 to 1. MDD participants only.
Time frame: Baseline, at 14 days
Treatment-related change in striatal response to FNR.
Striatal response to FNR is the standardized correlation between resting state BOLD signal of the striatum and habenula regions of the brain measured on a fMRI. Unit is the standardized correlation ranges from -1 to 1. MDD participants only.
Time frame: Baseline, at 14 days
Change in symptoms of irritability after two weeks of twice-weekly infusions of ketamine versus midazolam.
Symptoms of irritability will be measured by Concise Associated Symptom Tracking scale (CAST-IRR) where possible scores range from 5-25 and higher scores indicate greater severity of irritability. MDD participants only.
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Time frame: Baseline, at 14 days
Change in symptoms of depression (including suicidal ideation) measured by MADR scale
Symptoms of depression will be measured by Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Possible scores range from 0 to 60 where higher scores indicate worse outcome. MDD participants only.
Time frame: Baseline, at 14 days
Change in symptoms of depression measured by QIDS report
Symptoms of depression will be measured by Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) report. Possible scores range from 0 to 27 where higher scores indicate worse outcome. MDD participants only.
Time frame: Baseline, at 14 days
Change in symptoms including anxious arousal measured by MAS questionnaire
Symptoms including anxious arousal will be measured by Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire (MASQ). Possible scores range from 1-5 where higher scores indicate worse outcome. MDD participants only.
Time frame: Baseline, at 14 days
Change in behavior (including anger attacks) measured by AAQ
Behavior (including anger attacks) will be measured by Massachusetts General Hospital Anger Attack Questionnaire (AAQ) as 'Yes/No' where 'Yes' means worse outcome. MDD participants only. MDD participants only.
Time frame: Baseline, at 14 days
Change in severity of dissociative symptoms associated with study drug administration measured by CADS scale
Severity of dissociative symptoms associated with study drug administration (Ketamine vs Midazolam) will be measured by Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS). Possible scores range from 0-5 where higher scores indicate worse outcome. MDD participants only
Time frame: Baseline, at 14 days
Change in patient reported side effects measured by PRISE Adverse Event scores
Patient reported side effects will be measured by Patient Rated Inventory of Side Effects (PRISE) Adverse Event visit checklist. The PRISE is a physician-administered checklist of adverse events. PRISE contains 33 items, each defined by an adverse event. Each item is rated on a 3-point scale, ranging from 0 (not present) to 2 (distressing), with a total score range from 0-66, where higher scores indicate more adverse events. MDD participants only
Time frame: Baseline, at 14 days
Acute behavioral changes measured by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)
Acute behavioral changes will be measured by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) that consists of 18 items, each defined by a series of symptoms. Each item is rated on a 7-point scale, ranging from 1 (not observed) to 7 (very severe), with a total score range from 18-126, where higher scores indicate psychiatric symptoms. MDD participants only
Time frame: Baseline, at 14 days