Combined Ketamine and eCBT Intervention for PTSD

Brief Summary

An open label RCT assessing the efficacy of a combined treatment approach for PTSD, using Ketamine infusions and online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Intervention / Treatment

Participants diagnosed with PTSD will be assigned either to the experimental treatment or a control. Data will be collected from participants in both groups at the same 4 time-points.
  • Ketamine (DRUG)
    Patients will receive 6 sub-anesthetic IV ketamine infusions over 8 weeks, each one lasting 40 minutes.
  • Online Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (BEHAVIORAL)
    Participants will enrol in a 12-week online CBT program mirroring in-person trauma-focused CBT.

Condition or Disease

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Study Design

    Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
    Status: Recruiting
    Study results: No Results Available
    Age: 18 Years to 65 Years
    Enrollment: 16 (ESTIMATED)
    Allocation: Non-Randomized
    Primary Purpose: Treatment

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    Clinical Trial Dates

    Start date: Aug 01, 2021 ACTUAL
    Primary Completion: Mar 31, 2024 ESTIMATED
    Completion Date: Mar 31, 2024 ESTIMATED
    Study First Posted: Feb 25, 2021 ACTUAL
    Last Updated: Aug 08, 2022

    Sponsors / Collaborators

    Lead Sponsor: Queen's University
    Responsible Party: N/A

    OBJECTIVES

    (i) To introduce a previously untreated patient population with PTSD to new therapeutic options.

    (ii) To provide new insights into the functional role of Glutamate in affective disorders as well as in learning and memory.

    (iii) To explore the utility of pharmacologically-enhanced psychotherapy.

    OUTLINE

    The present study is an open label randomized control trial assessing the efficacy of a combined treatment of sub-anaesthetic IV Ketamine in conjunction with online CBT (eCBT). In the study, 16 participants with refractory PTSD will be assigned either to an experimental group receiving a combination of Ketamine and eCBT over 12 weeks, or they will be assigned to a 12-week control group. Both groups will be assessed for symptoms of PTSD and comorbid disorders before treatment, at 2 midway points (4 and 8 weeks), and at the end of the 12 week experimental period. Symptoms of PTSD and comorbid disorders for participants in the experimental group are expected to improve significantly more than participants in the control.

    Participant Groups

    • Over 12 weeks, participants receive weekly sessions of asynchronous online cognitive-behavioural therapy as well as 6 sub-anesthetic infusions of Ketamine

    • Participants are in a control condition receiving treatment as usual, during which time they will not receive the experimental treatment and will have no change in their treatment regimen.

    Eligibility Criteria

    Sex: All
    Minimum Age: 18
    Maximum Age: 65
    Age Groups: Adult / Older Adult
    Healthy Volunteers: Yes

    Inclusion Criteria:

    * Diagnosis of PTSD by a psychiatrist on the team using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) with a score of at least 50 and a medium presentation.
    * Patients will have received at least 2 different types of prior treatment, both of which produced less than a 50% reduction in the participant's symptoms.
    * Participants with hypertension or cardiovascular disease must be receiving stable treatment to participate.
    * Participants must speak and read English, and will have consistent and reliable access to the internet.
    * Patients with suicidal ideation will be included.
    * Patients with a history of substance abuse will be included (except for opioid use disorder).

    Exclusion Criteria:

    Hypomanic/manic episodes, bipolar disorder, acute psychosis, opioid use disorder, treatment with Naltrexone, pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, untreated hypertension, cardiovascular disease, ASPD, active homicidal ideation, and general noncompliance with the study protocol.

    This clinical trial is recruiting

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    Primary Outcomes
    • Assessment of PTSD symptoms for diagnosis and severity; score representing the mildest/lack of symptoms: 0; score representing the most severe symptoms: 120.

    Secondary Outcomes
    • Measure of depression; score representing the mildest/lack of symptoms: 0; score representing the most severe symptoms: 60.

    • Measuring thoughts, feelings, and behaviours associated with suicide; score representing the mildest/lack of symptoms: 0; score representing the most severe symptoms: 6.

    • A brief, patient rated measure of disability and impairment; score representing the mildest/lack of symptoms: 0; score representing the most severe symptoms: 44.

    • Assessing the patient's overall capacity to handle life's challenges; score representing the mildest/lack of symptoms: 100; score representing the most severe symptoms: 1.

    More Details

    NCT Number: NCT04771767
    Other IDs: 14521759
    Study URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04771767
    Last updated: Sep 29, 2023