Ketamine Effects on Learning in Eating Disorders (KETTLE)

This open-label, Phase II trial (n=20) will study the effects of a single intravenous (IV) dose of ketamine (35mg/70kg over 40 minutes) on cognitive flexibility in adolescents and young adults (ages 16–26) who are medically hospitalised for anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa.

The study, led by Dr Amanda Downey at the University of California, San Francisco, aims to assess whether ketamine can improve patients’ ability to form new, positive associations with food, potentially making hospitalisation less distressing.

Researchers will measure changes in eating disorder symptoms before and after ketamine infusion, using a reversal learning task to evaluate cognitive flexibility. Participants must have a confirmed diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa, be medically hospitalised for malnutrition, and have had no changes to psychiatric medications in the month prior to enrolment. The study is estimated to run from February 2025 to June 2026.

Topic Eating Disorders
Compound Ketamine
Country United States of America
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Trial Details



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Sponsors & Collaborators

University of California San Francisco
At UCSF, there are two research teams dedicated to the study of psychedelics; the Neuroscape Psychedelic Division and the Translational Psychedelic Research Program.

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