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.

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.

Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant

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