Ketamine study probes brain chemistry for depression clues

NCT ID NCT06668571

Recruiting now Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Mayo Clinic Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests how a single dose of intravenous ketamine changes brain chemicals like GABA and glutamate in people with treatment-resistant depression. Thirty adults will receive either ketamine or a placebo, and researchers will measure brain activity and depression symptoms. The goal is to understand why ketamine can rapidly improve mood, not to prove it works as a treatment.

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 successful, this study could reveal how ketamine works in the brain to rapidly relieve depression, potentially guiding better treatments.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study focused on brain chemistry, not a direct test of a new treatment. Results may not lead to immediate clinical benefits.

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

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

depressive disorder Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant major depressive disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

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

DEPRESSIVE DISORDER, TREATMENT-RESISTANT TREATMENT RESISTANT DEPRESSION (TRD)

Contacts and locations

Locations

Mayo Clinic in Rochester
RECRUITING

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

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