Ketamine sedation study seeks to unlock depression treatment secrets
NCT ID NCT07198711
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-stage study at Stanford University compares ketamine to a placebo (saline) during sedation in 15 healthy adults with major depressive disorder. The goal is to see how these drugs affect brain activity and experiences like dreams or thoughts. Researchers will use EEG to measure brain waves and interview participants about their experiences.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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About 15 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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May 2025
- Expected to finish
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May 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or female, 18 to 70 years of age, inclusive, at screen. 2. Able to read, understand, and provide written, dated informed consent prior to screening. Participants will be deemed likely to comply with study protocol and communicate with study personnel about adverse events and other clinically important information. 3. In sufficiently good health to proceed with a low risk elective procedure, characterized using the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification system as Class 1 or 2. 4. If female, a status of non-childbearing potential or use of an acceptable form of birth control 5. Body mass index between 17-35 kg/m2. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Female of childbearing potential who is not willing to use one of the specified forms of birth control during the study. 2. Female that is pregnant or breastfeeding. 3. Female with a positive pregnancy test at screening or baseline. 4. Current diagnosis of a Substance Use Disorder (SUD; Abuse or Dependence, as defined by DSM-V) rated "moderate" or "severe", or Alcohol Use Disorder rated "moderate" or "severe". The following categories of SUD will NOT be excluded: nicotine dependence; alcohol or substance use disorder rated "mild"; alcohol or substance use disorder of any severity in remission, either early (3-12 months) or sustained (\>12 months) time frames. 5. Current diagnosis of Axis I disorders other than Dysthymic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Specific Phobia, or Bipolar II Disorder 6. History of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders, or any history of psychotic symptoms 7. History of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or eating disorder not otherwise specified, within five years of screening. 8. In the judgment of the investigator, the subject is at significant risk for suicidal behavior during the course of his/her participation in the study. 9. A neurological disorder including: 1. Has dementia, delirium, amnestic, or any other cognitive disorder. 2. Lifetime history of surgical procedures involving the brain or meninges, 3. encephalitis, meningitis, degenerative central nervous system disorder (e.g., Alzheimer's or Parkinson's Disease), epilepsy, mental retardation 4. any other disease/procedure/accident/intervention associated with significant injury to or malfunction of the central nervous system (CNS), 5. history of significant head trauma within the past two years. 10. A cardiovascular disorder including: 1. uncontrolled hypertension 2. Congestive heart failure NYHA Criteria \>Stage 2 3. Atrial fibrillation or resting heart rate \<50 or \>105 beats per minute at screening or randomization 4. Any conduction abnormalities including AV nodal block of any type or intraventricular conduction delay. 5. QTcF (Fridericia-corrected) \>= 450 msec at screening or randomization 6. any cardiovascular disorder that would merit categorization of patient as ASA Class 3 or higher 11. A pulmonary/respiratory disorder including: 1. diagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea or STOPBANG score of 3 or higher 2. History of difficult airway in surgical setting 3. any pulmonary / respiratory disorder that would merit categorization of patient as ASA Class 3 or higher 12. Clinically significant liver disease, determined by LFTs within the past 6 months. 13. Clinically significant kidney disease determined by creatinine / GFR within the past 6 months. 14. Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal hernia, or other gastrointestinal disorder placing patient at risk for aspiration or that would merit categorization of patient as ASA Class 3 or higher 15. Any endocrine disorder including: 1. uncontrolled diabetes, type 1 or 2 2. History of hypothyroidism and has been on a stable dosage of thyroid replacement medication for less than six months prior to screening. (Subjects on a stable dosage of thyroid replacement medication for at least six months or more prior to screening are eligible for enrollment.) 3. History of hyperthyroidism which was treated (medically or surgically) less than six months prior to screening. 4. Other endocrine disorder that would merit categorization of patient as ASA Class 3 or higher 16. Patients taking any of the following daily medications: 1. opioids including buprenorphine and methadone 2. naltrexone or other opioid antagonist 3. clonidine 17. Any other clinically significant abnormal laboratory result at the time of the screening exam. 18. Has a clinically significant abnormality on the screening physical examination that might affect safety, study participation or confound interpretation of study results, including any condition that would merit categorization of patient as ASA Class 3 or higher. 19. Participation in any clinical trial with an investigational drug or device that conflicts with this trial, within the past month or concurrent to study participation.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Stanford University
Stanford, California, 94305, United States
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