ClinicalTrials.Veeva

Menu

Study of Intranasal Ketamine for Social Impairment in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center logo

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Status and phase

Completed
Phase 1

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Treatments

Drug: Placebo
Drug: Ketamine

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other
Industry

Identifiers

NCT02611921
2015-2494

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study is to determine if intranasal ketamine shows initial evidence of safety, tolerability and efficacy for the treatment of social impairment in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Full description

To address the significant need for effective treatment of core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this trial is designed as a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover pilot study of intranasal ketamine in 24 individuals with ASD ages 12- 30 years using a novel quantitative eye-tracking outcome measure to assess impact of the drug on social impairment. Additionally, to develop a ketamine-focused personalized medicine approach in ASD, the investigators will include pharmacokinetic, molecular pharmacodynamic, and electrophysiological assessments into initial systematic study.

Enrollment

21 patients

Sex

All

Ages

12 to 30 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • Ages 12 to 30 years old.
  • Weight equal to or greater than 50 kg.
  • General good health as determined by physical exam, medical history, laboratory work up, and EKG.
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (not associated with Fragile X Syndrome or other known genetic syndrome) as confirmed by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule at screen or previous (within last 5 years) if available.
  • Valid Intelligence Quotient (IQ) score greater than or equal to 50 as confirmed via testing (Leiter-3) at screen or previous (within last 5 years, any valid testing acceptable).
  • Clinical Global Impressions-Severity score of 4 (Moderately Ill).
  • Score of 10 on the Social Withdrawal subscale of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist.
  • Stable dosing of all concomitant psychotropic medications for five half-lives prior to screening visit and during the study.
  • Presence of parent/guardian or significant other or caregiver willing to serve as informant for behavioral outcome measures.

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of co-morbid schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder with psychosis, bipolar disorder or psychosis not otherwise specified. Comorbid diagnoses determined by psychiatrist clinical interview and use of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition diagnostic criteria.
  • History of drug or alcohol abuse.
  • Presence of cardiac disease including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, or uncontrolled hypertension per medical history (individuals with ≥ 2 blood pressure readings of ≥140/90 during screen/baseline will be excluded).
  • Airway instability, tracheal surgery, or tracheal stenosis per medical history.
  • Central nervous system masses or hydrocephalus per medical history.
  • Porphyria, thyroid disorder, or thyroid medication use per medical history.
  • Glaucoma or other cause of increased intraocular pressure per medical history.
  • Allergy to ketamine.
  • Current use of drugs with concomitant modification of non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate activity (acamprosate, amantadine, memantine, d-cycloserine etc.)
  • For female subjects of child bearing potential, a positive pregnancy test.
  • Any major chronic medical or chronic respiratory illness considered to be uncontrolled by the Principal Investigator.
  • Inability to tolerate study procedures or study drug per the discretion of the Principal Investigator.

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Crossover Assignment

Masking

Quadruple Blind

21 participants in 2 patient groups

Crossover Group: Ketamine verses Placebo
Experimental group
Description:
Phase 1: Two ascending doses of intranasal ketamine Two week washout Phase 2: Two doses of placebo
Treatment:
Drug: Ketamine
Drug: Placebo
Crossover Group: Placebo verses Ketamine
Experimental group
Description:
Phase 1: Two doses of placebo Two week washout Phase 2: Two ascending doses of intranasal ketamine
Treatment:
Drug: Ketamine
Drug: Placebo

Trial contacts and locations

1

Loading...

Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

Clinical trials

Find clinical trialsTrials by location
© Copyright 2025 Veeva Systems