Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Disorder

NCT05004896 | Completed Phase 2 DMC

• 1 other identifier: 21-5560
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 71
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 3

Brief Summary

Growing evidence has supported rapid and robust antidepressant effects with subanesthetic doses of intravenous (IV) ketamine for treatment resistant depression (TRD). However, no completed or ongoing randomized control trials (RCTs) have evaluated the effects of repeated doses of IV ketamine for a homogenous sample of patients with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder (TRBD). The primary research goal is to determine the acute antidepressant efficacy, safety and tolerability of four repeated sub-anesthetic doses of IV ketamine in moderate to severe TRBD. Secondary aims include evaluating effects of IV ketamine on suicidal ideations, quality of life, function and duration of effects. Herein, a two-site (University Health Network and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences), phase II, double-blinded, midazolam-controlled, two-week RCT evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of four flexibly-dosed adjunctive ketamine infusions (0.5-0.75mg/kg infused over 40 minutes) for acute treatment of moderate to severe TRBD (type I \& II) is proposed. The primary outcome will be Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores, determining the between group difference in change from baseline to day 14, using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with 14-day MADRS as the outcome and baseline MADRS and stratification variables (sex, bipolar type) as covariates. Secondary outcomes include evaluating response and remission rates, safety, tolerability (including treatment-emergent mania), and effects on suicidality, anxiety, quality of life, function and the duration of effects (to day 28).

Conditions

Bipolar Disorder; Bipolar Depression; Bipolar I Disorder; Bipolar II Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in depression severity using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)

  The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale measuring depression severity. It consists of 10 items, each scored from 0 (normal) to 6 (severe), for a total possible score of 60. A higher score is indicative of greater depressive severity. Response rates are defined as \> 50% decrease and Remission ≤ 12 actual score.

  4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Recruitment and Retention Rate

  4 weeks

• Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events

  4 weeks

• Suicidality

  4 weeks

• Treatment-Emergent Mania

  4 weeks

• Quality of Life (QOL)

  4 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Ketamine

EXPERIMENTAL

Four infusions of ketamine will be administered over two weeks. The first two infusions will be dosed at 0.5mg/kg over a period of 40 minutes. For infusions 3 and 4, patients will be flexibly dosed between 0.5 mg/kg to 0.75 mg/kg, depending on clinical response to first two infusions.

Drug: Ketamine Hydrochloride

Midazolam

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Four infusions of midazolam will be administered over two weeks. The first two infusions will be dosed at 0.02mg/kg over a period of 40 minutes. For infusions 3 and 4, patients will be flexibly dosed between 0.02 mg/kg to 0.03 mg/kg, depending on clinical response to first two infusions.

Drug: Midazolam Hydrochloride

Interventions

Ketamine Hydrochloride DRUG

36 patients will receive ketamine hydrochloride, over four infusions, flexibly dosed between 0.5 mg/kg to 0.75 mg/kg

Ketamine

Midazolam Hydrochloride DRUG

36 patients will receive midazolam hydrochloride, over four infusions, flexibly dosed between 0.02 mg/kg to 0.03 mg/kg

Midazolam

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 21 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Provide written, voluntary informed consent prior to study enrollment. Substitute decision makers will not be allowed to consent to study on a potential patient's behalf.
• Male or female between the age of 21 to 65, inclusive.
• Meets DSM-5 criteria for Bipolar I or II Disorder, currently experiencing a Major Depressive Episode without psychotic features. Diagnosis will be confirmed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) conducted by a delegated physician or trained research study while assessing eligibility.
• Patient must present with a moderate to severe depressive episode, as determined by the MADRS score greater than 21.
• Current depressive episode has inadequate response to two or more adequate first-line treatment trials for bipolar depression, as per the 2018 CANMAT Bipolar Disorder Guidelines. First line treatment trials include the use of lithium, valproate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine and/or any antipsychotic medication.
• Patient must be receiving guideline-concordant pharmacotherapy without changes in the last month, including a therapeutic dose of a guideline-concordant mood stabilizer/antipsychotic.

You may not qualify if:

• Currently exhibiting symptoms of mania, hypomania, or mixed state bipolar, as determined by the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score greater than 12.
• Current symptoms of psychosis or a substance use disorder within the past 3 months. History of psychotic features during a mood episode will not be excluded.
• History of neurological disorders (including, but not limited to, uncontrolled seizure disorder, history of stroke within past 12 months, major head injuries, aneurysmal vascular disease \[including thoracic and abdominal aorta, intracranial, and peripheral arterial vessels\], arteriovenous malformation, or intracerebral hemorrhage)
• Lifetime history of a primary psychotic disorder (including, but not limited to, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder)
• Lifetime history of ketamine use disorder
• Presence of active suicidality, requiring involuntary inpatient treatment or recent suicide attempts within the past 3 months.
• Presence of a contraindication to ketamine or midazolam, including a drug allergy, uncontrolled hypertension (baseline systolic blood pressure \> 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure \> 90 mmHg), low or labile blood pressure, myocardial infarction within past 12 months, cardiac arrhythmia, moderate to severe hepatic impairment (i.e., Child-Pugh score of B or C), moderate or severe renal impairment (glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \< 45 milliliters/min) , heart failure, or coronary artery disease
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women or women who intend to get pregnant. Patients who are sexually active must agree to use a highly effective contraceptive method (as outlined in section 5.11).
• Use of prohibited concomitant medications, including other forms of ketamine or esketamine, benzodiazepines, stimulants, alcohol, and medical or recreational cannabis taken during the trial at a specific prohibited time.
• Use of ketamine in the 30 days leading up to the patient's entry in the trial.
• Use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) at least two weeks prior to receiving study treatment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Joshua Rosenblat: lead

Study Sites (3)

Toronto General Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada

Location

Toronto Western Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada

Location

Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences

Whitby, Ontario, L1N 5S9, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Bipolar Disorder

Interventions

Ketamine; Midazolam

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Bipolar and Related Disorders; Mood Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cyclohexanes; Cycloparaffins; Hydrocarbons, Alicyclic; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Hydrocarbons; Organic Chemicals; Benzodiazepines; Benzazepines; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds

Study Officials

• Joshua Rosenblat, MD, MSc

  Toronto Western Hospital, Psychiatry

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 6, 2021
• First Posted: August 13, 2021
• Study Start: July 4, 2022
• Primary Completion: November 14, 2025
• Study Completion: November 14, 2025
• Last Updated: March 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (3)