NCT03609190

A Multimodal Neuroimaging Study of Brain Activation Patterns Under Ketamine

Brain Activation Patterns Under Emotional and Neurochemic Stimulation With Ketamine: A Multimodal Neuroimaging Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: EARLY_Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 10 (actual)
• Sponsor: Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 20 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The aim of the project is to establish a multimodal imaging approach for the investigation of the neural mechanisms underlying neuroreceptor regulation, glutamatergic metabolism and brain function that are of particular relevance for major depressive disorder (MDD) and that can be translated into clinical applications. There is growing evidence for imbalance with regard to glutamatergic neurotransmission in stress-related affective disorders. Further support for the hypothesis that dysfunctional glutamatergic signaling underlies major depressive disorder, and indeed that its reversal constitutes a potential efficacious mechanism of action, is provided by the evidence that pharmacological compounds active at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) ionotropic glutamate receptor such as ketamine exert rapid antidepressant effects. As a tool compound ketamine enables the safe investigation of the brain region-specific effects of NMDA receptor antagonism in terms of glutamatergic neurotransmission, brain function and the association of these neural changes with emotional state, thereby allowing for increased understanding of the therapeutic mechanism of action. The possibility to simultaneously study brain perfusion (arterial spin labeling), functional brain activity (fMRI) and connectivity (resting state fMRI), neurometabolism (proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and metabotropic glutamate receptor densities (positron emission tomography) will unravel their functional interplay in the mechanisms underlying the regulation of mood and cognition. Combining those imaging modalities with treatment interventions in healthy subjects and depressed patients, this project aims at providing insight into the neuropharmacological effects of ketamine and its antidepressant properties.

Conditions

• Major Depressive Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Ketamine	i.v. infusion of 0.25 mg/kg S-ketamine over 40 min
DRUG	Placebo	i.v. infusion of NaCl over 40 min

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-01-01
• Primary completion: 2018-12-01
• Completion: 2018-12-01
• First posted: 2018-08-01
• Last updated: 2019-03-20