Trial of the Rapid Antisuicidal Effects of Intranasal Ketamine in Comorbid Depression and Alcohol Abuse

Clinicians have a limited ability to predict imminent suicidal behavior and efficacious treatments are not available to treat suicidal patients. Thus, Rapid-acting treatments for suicidal individuals are truly needed. This project aims to evaluate the potential rapid and sustained antisuicidal and antidepressant effects of a single intranasal dose of ketamine in inpatients during a mood episode (in Major Depressive Disorder, MDD or Bipolar Disorder, BD) with or without comorbid recent abuse of alcohol. These results will elucidate the antisuicidal effects of ketamine using the intranasal route along with the identification of associated mediators or moderators; this approach has the potential for enormous public health impact.