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.

I'm interested View official listing
ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT06085937
PhasePHASE1
Enrollment50
SponsorLindsay Maguire, MD
Age18 Years – 65 Years
SexALL
I'm interested View official listing

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

Primary outcomes

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

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: 2026-11-04.