This open-label trial (n=5) investigates the effects of ketamine (35mg/70kg, 4x over 4 weeks) on those suffering from depression and alcohol dependence simultaneously.
The main outcome is a change in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale total scores at 72 hours post-infusion.
Patients were also (pre-)treated with naltrexone (380mg, several days before ketamine treatment) to help with their alcohol dependence.
The results show that “[t]he combination of naltrexone and ketamine was associated with reduced depressive symptoms… 60% (3 of 5) of patients met response criteria after their initial ketamine dose and 100% (5 of 5) met response criteria by their fourth dose, although 1 patient left the trial after receiving 2 ketamine infusions… depressive symptoms improved about 57% to 92%. Also, 80% (4 of 5) of patients reported improvement in alcohol craving and consumption as measured by the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale. The combination treatment was safe and well tolerated in all participants. No serious adverse effects were reported in the trial.”
Trial Details
Trial Number
Sponsors & Collaborators
Yale UniversityThe Yale Psychedelic Science Group was established in 2016.
Wallace Research Foundation
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Papers
Association of Combined Naltrexone and Ketamine With Depressive Symptoms in a Case series of Patients With Depression and Alcohol Use DisorderThis open-label pilot study (n=5) investigated the use of naltrexone pretreatment (380 mg) with ketamine infusions (35mg/70kg, 4 infusions over 4 weeks) for depression and found that it does not interfere with ketamine's antidepressant effects. On the contrary, the study found that it might help in treating co-morbid alcohol use disorder and called for pre-clinical research to further understand these results, also in light of earlier conflicting research.
Measures Used
Hamilton Depression Rating ScaleThe Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) is a multiple item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression, and as a guide to evaluating recovery. The scale consists of 17 items which each item being scoring on a 3 or 5 point scale. The higher the score, the more likely a person is depressed.