Coaching as an Adjunct to Ketamine Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression
This study is being conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) to explore whether adding psychedelic coaching can enhance the effects of ketamine or esketamine maintenance treatment in individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The investigators are currently enrolling participants who are receiving ongoing maintenance intravenous (IV) ketamine or intranasal esketamine (Spravato) treatment at the MGH Ketamine Clinic. Participation in the study will involve adding coaching sessions to your…
Conditions studied
Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD)
About this study
This study is being conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) to explore whether adding psychedelic coaching can enhance the effects of ketamine or esketamine maintenance treatment in individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The investigators are currently enrolling participants who are receiving ongoing maintenance intravenous (IV) ketamine or intranasal esketamine (Spravato) treatment at the MGH Ketamine Clinic. Participation in the study will involve adding coaching sessions to your existing ketamine maintenance treatment.
Interventions
- Behavioral: Psychedelic Integration Coaching — Participation in the study will involve adding coaching sessions to existing ketamine maintenance treatment for patients receiving ongoing maintenance IV ketamine or IN esketamine treatment at MGH's Ketamine Clinic. If participants are eligible, they will be invited to participate in 12 weekly, 50-minute one-on-one coaching sessions conducted via Zoom. These sessions are designed to help participants process and integrate their experiences with ketamine treatment, to support personal growth and symptom improvement. The coaching is non-clinical, collaborative, and participant-directed, and is provided by trained psychedelic integration coaches from the Fireside Project. Throughout the 3-month coaching period and again at a 1-month follow-up, participants will complete monthly study visits that include brief remote assessments with a study clinician, along with additional self-report questionnaires. These visits will take approximately 1 to 2 hours, depending on the time point.
Primary outcomes
- To assess the feasibility of adjunctive coaching during ketamine/esketamine maintenance treatment. (From enrollment to the end of treatment at Month 3)
- To assess the acceptability of adjunctive coaching during ketamine/esketamine maintenance treatment. (From enrollment to the end of treatment at Month 3)
Eligibility information
Study locations
- Massachusetts General Hospital's Depression and Clinical Research program, Boston, Massachusetts 02114 United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114 United States
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.