Effects of Intranasal Ketamine on Depression and Anxiety in Palliative Care Cancer Patients (Keta-Care)

This open-label feasibility study (n=100) will assess the effectiveness, safety, and practicality of intranasal ketamine in treating depression and anxiety in palliative care cancer patients. Participants will self-administer 5 mg doses of ketamine nasal spray over an 8-week period, with outcomes measured through questionnaires evaluating depression, anxiety, sleep quality, quality of life, and caregiver burden.

The study, sponsored by the University of Zurich, aims to provide a fast-acting and low-side-effect antidepressant option for terminal cancer patients experiencing emotional distress. Given the limited life expectancy and complex medication regimens, traditional antidepressants may not be ideal, making ketamine a promising alternative.

The study will measure changes in symptoms using various scales, including the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). If successful, this treatment could improve patients’ quality of life and alleviate the burden on caregivers.

Trial Details

With progression of cancer, patients and their caregivers experience challenging emotional distress, which can make them feel depressed and very anxious. Patients with advanced cancer often do not have long to live. However, most antidepressants take a long time to act and cause unwanted side effects. There is hence a need for a fast acting antidepressant with fewer unwanted side effects. Ketamine is an effective and fast acting antidepressant originating from pain treatment, which has few unwanted side effects. It can be taken by a patient as a nasal spray when it is needed. The idea of treating depression and anxiety in cancer patients in palliative care with ketamine nasal spray is new. How effective ketamine will be at reducing depression and anxiety in patients is unknown . It is also unknown whether this kind of treatment will be safe and practical for palliative care patients. This study aims to answer these questions. Patients will be treated with a low dose (5 mg) of ketamine nasal spray and then measure its effectiveness, practicality and safety. Questionnaires will be used to measure these outcomes. If treating depression and anxiety with ketamine nasal spray proves to be effective, practical and safe, then it could help to improve the quality of life for palliative care patients and reduce the burden of their caregivers.

Trial Number NCT06665568

Data attribution

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