Ketamine plus talk therapy: a new hope for stubborn depression?
NCT ID NCT06138691
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This small pilot study tested whether combining intravenous ketamine with a specific talk therapy called RO DBT is safe and feasible for adults with treatment-resistant depression. Sixteen participants received four weekly ketamine infusions plus four months of RO DBT. The main goal was to see if the combination is practical and safe, and to measure changes in depressive symptoms.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- ketamine infusion plus radically open dialectical behavior therapy (RO DBT)
- What this could lead to
- If this combination proves safe and feasible, it could point toward a new treatment approach for people with depression that hasn't responded to other therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early-phase study with only 16 participants. It focuses on safety and feasibility, not on proving the treatment works. Ketamine can cause side effects like dissociation or nausea.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, 63110-1010, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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