Study of IV Ketamine for Emergency Department Treatment of Adolescent Suicidal Ideation

This double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm pilot trial (n=20) will investigate the efficacy of intravenous ketamine for emergency department treatment of suicidal ideation (SI) in adolescents.

The study aims to determine the feasibility of using intravenous ketamine to rapidly alleviate SI in adolescents presenting to the emergency department. Adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, with moderate to severe suicidal ideation, who are medically clear and fluent in English or French, will be included. The intervention group will receive an intravenous ketamine infusion, while the control group will receive an intravenous normal saline infusion.

The primary outcome measure is the feasibility of the study, assessed by the percentage of eligible patients able to complete the study protocol. Secondary outcome measures include the distribution of responses to various suicidal ideation assessment tools and treatment efficacy measured at different time points post-treatment start. The study is expected to start in June 2023 and complete in July 2024.

It is conducted at CHEO in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and is sponsored by the University of Ottawa.

Topic Suicidality
Compound Ketamine Placebo
Country Canada
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Trial Details



Trial Number

Sponsors & Collaborators

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
CHEO is a pediatric health center in Ottawa, Canada, providing specialized care for young patients, including medical, surgical, mental health, & rehabilitation services.

University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa launched  The Psychedelics & Spirituality Studies Initiative (PSSI) in 2021. PSSI is an interdisciplinary group of faculty and graduate students who share a common interest in the study of psychedelics, spirituality and integrative healing.

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