Intramuscular ketamine for suicidal patients in the evanston hospital emergency department for suicidal distress: a pilot study

NCT ID NCT07810023

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only This study
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

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Status unknown
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First seen Sep 09, 2026 · Last updated Sep 09, 2026

Summary

This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of administering intramuscular ketamine for the acute reduction of suicidal distress during psychiatric boarding at the Evanston Hospital ED. This study also aims to identify and describe the broader patient population who present to the Evanston Hospital ED in suicidal distress. This study includes several cohorts. A small (n=8) dosing cohort will receive an IM injection of ketamine. Additionally, an ED staff cohort and a research staff cohort can complete optional surveys to provide feedback about study procedures. Lastly, a chart review will be conducted after the completion of the study to determine the volume and patterns of patients who present to Evanston Hospital ED in suicidal distress.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 8 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Sep 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

May 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria for the dosing cohort: 1. Admitted to the Evanston Hospital ED and met criteria for SCS 2. Awaiting voluntary admission to the Evanston Hospital inpatient psychiatric unit 3. Above the age of 18. 4. Ability to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria for dosing cohort: 1. Patients under the age of 18 2. Pregnant individuals (Individuals of child-bearing potential will be given a pregnancy test) 3. Active psychosis or carry a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder mixed, or bipolar disorder with a history of psychotic episodes 4. Individuals whose current ED visit was due to a suicide attempt defined by "actual attempt" on the C-SSRS and which resulted in a score greater than zero on the Lethality/Potential Lethality/Medical Damage C-SSRS questions. 5. Current substance use disorder or significant history of substance abuse 6. Unstable vital signs, including moderate or severe hypertension that is not controlled with medication 7. History of an adverse reaction to ketamine or esketamine 8. Any condition that, in the clinical opinion of the investigator, impairs capacity to provide informed consent (including but not limited to: seizure disorders, psychiatric conditions, neurological conditions, intellectual disabilities, neurodegenerative disorders, renal impairment, hepatic impairment, bleeding disorders, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, or recent history of stroke, aneurysm, or malignancy). 9. Any condition that, in the clinical opinion of the investigator contraindicates intramuscular injections (including but not limited to: current medications, current or recent infection, neuromuscular conditions, skin conditions, bleeding disorders, cardiovascular disease, ror recent myocardial infarction). 10. Any condition that, in the clinical opinion of the investigator that contraindicates ketamine (including but not limited to: seizure disorders, psychiatric conditions, neurological conditions, intellectual disabilities, neurodegenerative disorders, renal impairment, hepatic impairment, bleeding disorders, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, or recent history of stroke, aneurysm, or malignancy). Inclusion Criteria for Chart Review Cohort: 1. Admitted to the Evanston Hospital ED 2. Assessed for Suicidal Ideation by the Crisis Team 3. Over the age of 18 Exclusion Criteria for Chart Review Cohort: 1. Pregnant individuals 2. Individuals who were participants in the Dosing Cohort

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Behavior Depression major depressive disorder Suicidal Ideation

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

How to take part

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  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.

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  3. A doctor treating you

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital

    Evanston, Illinois, 60201, United States

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