Could ketamine speed up depression relief in hospitalized patients?

NCT ID NCT06508710

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.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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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.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Bicetre Hospital - CRC

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, 94250, France

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • CEA/SHFJ

    ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

    Orsay, 94401, France

  • EPS Barthélémy Durand

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Étampes, 91152, France

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • Psychiatry unit

    RECRUITING

    Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France, 94270, France

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact