Can an anesthetic lift severe depression?
NCT ID NCT03684447
First seen Sep 09, 2026 · Last updated Sep 10, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers at the University of Utah are studying whether propofol, a drug normally used to put people to sleep for surgery, can ease symptoms in adults with treatment-resistant depression. The trial enrolls 32 people aged 18 to 55 who have major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder and have not improved after at least two antidepressant trials. Participants receive a series of six propofol treatments at one of two doses, and researchers track changes in depression scores and brain-related markers.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- propofol, a sedative drug also known as Diprivan
- What this could lead to
- If propofol eases depression at certain doses, it could offer a new option for people whose depression has not responded to standard medications.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early-stage trial of 32 people, so any benefit may not hold up in larger studies. Propofol is a strong sedative given in a clinic, which carries risks like low blood pressure and breathing problems.
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
-
Phase 2/3
Runs two stages together: whether the treatment works, then large-scale confirmation.
- Participants
-
32 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Apr 2019
- Finished
-
Dec 2022
- Lead sponsor
-
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
-
18 to 55 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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: Age 18-55 years Diagnosis of major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder Current moderate-to-severe depressive episode Episode duration more than 2 months and less than 5 years Failure of at least 2 adequate antidepressant medication trials within the past 2 years 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, self-rated (QIDS) \> 10 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) \> 18 Exclusion Criteria: Contraindication to propofol, egg lecithin, soybean oil, or other study drugs Lifetime history of a serious suicide attempt(Gvion and Levi-Belz, 2018) Recent suicidal behavior(past 3 months) Body mass index \> 40 kg/m2 Daily use of benzodiazepine, opioid, ACE inhibitor, or ARB medication Symptomatic coronary artery disease or heart failure Poorly controlled hypertension or diabetes Abnormal kidney or liver function Pregnant or breast feeding Traumatic brain injury or significant neurologic signs (past year) Substance use disorder, moderate-to-severe(past 3 months) Obsessive compulsive disorder (past month) Post-traumatic stress disorder (past month) Schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (lifetime) Neurocognitive disorder (past year) Personality disorder as a current focus of treatment ECT within the past 3months Inappropriate for ECT, or poor response to ECT within the past 5 years Incompetent to provide consent
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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
-
University Neuropsychiatric Institute
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108, United States
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