Could ketamine speed up depression relief in hospitalized patients?

NCT ID NCT06508710

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This Phase 3 trial tests whether adding intravenous ketamine to the antidepressant venlafaxine can relieve severe depression faster than venlafaxine alone. Sixty hospitalized adults with major depression will receive either ketamine or placebo infusions over one week. The goal is to see if ketamine can improve symptoms within days, potentially shortening hospital stays and reducing suffering.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: ketamine
What this could lead to: If it works, this could provide a faster way to relieve severe depression in hospitalized patients, potentially reducing suffering and hospital stays.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial with only 60 participants. Ketamine may not work better than placebo, and side effects like dissociation or blood pressure changes are possible.

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

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for MAJOR DEPRESSIVE EPISODE are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Depression major depressive disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

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

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE EPISODE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Bicetre Hospital - CRC
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, 94250, France
CEA/SHFJ
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Orsay, 94401, France
EPS Barthélémy Durand
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Étampes, 91152, France
Psychiatry unit
RECRUITING

Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France, 94270, France

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.