Recruiting
Feasibility and Safety of Ketamine for Suicidal Patients in the Emergency Department
There is currently no readily available pharmacologic intervention for suicidal ideation, a true psychiatric emergency, in the Emergency Department (ED). Investigators aim to trial low-dose, intravenous ketamine, a drug with well-established use in treatment-resistant depression, for patients who present to the ED with suicidal ideation.
ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT06085937
PhasePHASE1
Enrollment50
SponsorLindsay Maguire, MD
Age18 Years
SexALL
Conditions studied
Suicide, Suicidal Ideation, Depression
About this study
There is currently no readily available pharmacologic intervention for suicidal ideation, a true psychiatric emergency, in the Emergency Department (ED). Investigators aim to trial low-dose, intravenous ketamine, a drug with well-established use in treatment-resistant depression, for patients who present to the ED with suicidal ideation.
Interventions
- Drug: Ketamine — Patients will receive 0.2mg/kg of IV ketamine
Primary outcomes
- Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events [Safety and Tolerability] (2 hours)
- Provider and Nursing Attitudes toward use of Ketamine for Suicidal Patients in the ED [Feasibility] (2 hours)
Eligibility information
Inclusion Criteria:
* Acutely Suicidality ("yes" answer to any of items 4 or 5 on C-SSRS "Suicidal Ideation" category)
* Require inpatient stabilization for SI or actions based on clinical observation and interview
* Are accepted for psychiatric stabilization at the University of Kansas Medical Center's Strawberry Hill campus
* Have a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 15
* Age 18-65
Exclusion Criteria:
* Current or past history of psychosis
* Current or recent (past 4 weeks) symptoms of mania/hypomania as defined by Young Mania Rating Scale (YRMS) score of 12 or greater
* History of ketamine use disorder
* History of liver transplant
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Imprisonment or inability to consent
* Positive urine drug screen or serum alcohol level
* Hypertension (SBP \> 160 or DBP \> 100 before administration of ketamine)
* Hypotension (SBP \< 90)
* Presence of acute medical condition requiring admission to medical service
* Allergy, intolerance, or previous adverse reaction to ketamine
* Patient has 8+ lifetime ketamine exposures
* The treating physician determines that the patient is not a good candidate for the study (e.g. medical condition/procedure, medication that would contradindicate ketamine treatment)
Study locations
- University of Kansas Strawberry Hill Campus, Kansas City, Kansas 66101 United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center Emergency Department, Kansas City, Kansas 66160 United States
Before you participate: Varda Clinical is an independent discovery tool, not the study sponsor or a medical provider. Eligibility can only be determined by the official study team. Discuss potential risks and benefits with a qualified healthcare professional.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.