Pilot Study of Ketamine in Adults With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Treatments: Other: Saline; Drug: Ketamine infusion

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01100255

6906R/5883

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this study investigators are studying the effects of a drug called ketamine on the symptoms of Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Full description

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric illness that affects up to 2-3% of the population. People with OCD experience anxiety-provoking, intrusive thoughts, known as obsessions, and feel compelled to perform repetitive behaviors, or compulsions. The only medications proven effective for OCD are serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), but even with SRI treatment, most patients continue to experience significant OCD symptoms, impaired functioning, and diminished quality of life. Recent evidence suggest that a different neurotransmitter, glutamate, may contribute to the symptoms in OCD. Medications that target glutamate hold promise for ameliorating symptoms for those patients continuing to suffer from OCD. In this study the investigators are recruiting patients to receive the drug ketamine, which is thought to modulate the neurotransmitter glutamate through the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), in a 2-week placebo controlled study.

Enrollment: 15 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-55
• Physically healthy and not currently pregnant
• Primary Diagnosis of OCD
• Sufficient severity of symptoms
• Able to provide consent

Exclusion criteria

• Psychiatric conditions that make participation unsafe
• Currently on psychotropic medication
• Medical conditions that make participation unsafe
• Allergy to ketamine
• Any metal in the body

Trial design

15 participants in 2 patient groups

Group A

Active Comparator group

Description:

0.5mg/kg IV ketamine infusion over 40 minutes then IV saline infusion over 40 minutes

Treatment:

Drug: Ketamine infusion

Other: Saline

Group B

Active Comparator group

Description:

IV saline infusion over 40 minutes then 0.5mg/kg IV ketamine infusion over 40 minutes

Treatment:

Drug: Ketamine infusion

Other: Saline