The purpose of the study is to examine whether an investigational medication called ketamine along with psychotherapy is an effective treatment for depression in participants with a history of opioid addiction who have not abused opioids in at least 3 months. Participants will receive ketamine through intramuscular injection along with psychotherapy weekly for 8 weeks. Participation for eligible subjects who decide to enroll (including post-medication follow-up visits) will last about 16 weeks or 4 months.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
5
Subjects will receive 8 weekly intramuscular injections of ketamine hydrochloride starting at 0.5 mg/kg and increasing to a maximum dose of 1.5 mg/kg or a total dose of 60 mg, whichever is lower. Ketamine administration will be accompanied by psychotherapy before, after and during the session.
Medical University of South Carolina Centerspace
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale
Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The MADRS is a clinician administered, 10-item questionnaire of depression severity. The total score ranges from 0-60, with scores of 0-6 considered normal (non-depressed), 7-19 indicative of mild depression, 20-34 indicative of moderate depression, and 35-60 indicative of severe depression. Individuals scoring 20 or higher on the MADRS will be included in the study. The MADRS evaluates the following symptoms of depression: 1) clinical appearance of sadness, 2) self-reported sadness, 3) inner tension, 4) reduced sleep, 5) reduced appetite, 6) concentration difficulties, 7) lassitude, 8) inability to feel, 9) pessimistic thought process, and 10) thoughts of suicide. Lower scores are better (less depression).
Time frame: Change from baseline measured at week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 16
Beck Depression Inventory
Self-rated depression inventory; minimum score of 0 maximum score of 63 with lower scores being a better outcome (less depressed)
Time frame: Change from baseline measured at week 1-9, 10, 12, and 16
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Measure of subjective level of opioid craving; maximum score of 100 and minimum score of 0 with higher scores meaning worse outcome (more cravings)
Time frame: Change relative to baseline measured at week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 16
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
Self-report of anxiety symptom severity; minimum score of 0 and maximum score of 21 with higher scores meaning worse outcome (more anxious)
Time frame: Change in score relative to baseline calculated at week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 16.
Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ)
Measure of perceptual experiences; multiple items rated on a 5 point scale with higher scores indicating more intense perceptual experience. Total scores are presented as an average (mean) of the 30 item scale, each of which are rated out of 5. Scale is ordered as follows (in reference to magnitude of various perceptual experiences during acute ketamine session): 0 - none; not at all; 1 - so slight cannot decide; 2 - slight; 3- moderate; 4 - strong (equivalent in degree to any other strong experience); 5- extreme (more than any other time in my life and stronger than 4).
Time frame: Measured at week 1-8
Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)
Measure of pain. Sub-scale 3 specifically was reported for this outcome. Subjects were asked: "Please rate your pain by marking the box beside the number that best describes your pain at its worst in the last 24 hours"; maximum score of 10 and minimum of 0 with higher scores indicating worse outcome (more pain) and a score of 0 indicating best outcome (no pain).
Time frame: Measured at baseline, week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 16
PTSD Checklist (PCL-5; PTSD Checklist 5)
Measure of PTSD symptoms; maximum score 80 and minimum score of 0 with higher scores indicating worse outcome (more PTSD symptoms)
Time frame: Measured at week 1-9, 10, 12, and 16
Timeline Follow-back (TLFB)
Measure of Substance Use; maximum number of substance use days per week is 7 and minimum is 0 with higher number indicating worse outcomes (more substance use)
Time frame: Measured at week 1-9, 10, 12, and 16
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