ECT with Ketamine Anesthesia Vs High Intensity Ketamine with ECT Rescue for Treatment-Resistant Depression
To determine if an high intensity ketamine with ECT rescue (HIKER) approach for treatment resistant depression will: 1) reduce patient suffering by hastening disease remission, 2) have fewer side effects, 3) reduce the need for ECT, and 4) be preferred by most patients. Half of participants will be randomized to the HIKER arm and receive high intensity ketamine treatment for eight consecutive days, and the other half will be assigned to the ECT with ketamine anesthesia (EAST) arm and receive 8 ECT treatments (2-3…
Conditions studied
Treatment Resistant Depression, Ketamine
About this study
To determine if an high intensity ketamine with ECT rescue (HIKER) approach for treatment resistant depression will: 1) reduce patient suffering by hastening disease remission, 2) have fewer side effects, 3) reduce the need for ECT, and 4) be preferred by most patients. Half of participants will be randomized to the HIKER arm and receive high intensity ketamine treatment for eight consecutive days, and the other half will be assigned to the ECT with ketamine anesthesia (EAST) arm and receive 8 ECT treatments (2-3 treatment/week)
Interventions
- Drug: Ketamine — IV Ketamine 0.50 mg/kg
- Procedure: ECT — ECT with unilateral or bilateral electrode placement and monitoring of seizure threshold by the half-age method
Primary outcomes
- Number of treatments required to reach disease remission (From date of randomization until the date of disease remission or after 8 treatments, assessed up to 4 weeks)
Eligibility information
Study locations
- Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W8 Canada
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.