Ketamine as a Rapid Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive re-experiences of the traumatic events, avoidance of situations and stimuli that could serve as reminders of these events, and chronic hypervigilance. Patients with PTSD are often also depressed, and many have significant memory impairments. Existing drug treatments are unsuccessful in a majority of patients, especially in those with combat-related PTSD. The primary aim of this study is to test the efficacy of a single sub-anesthetic IV dose of ketamine in providing rapid relief of symptoms in patients with active PTSD. A factor that must be considered, however, is that ketamine is known to impair memory function. Because of this, ketamine-induced memory impairment also will be tested as a predictor of outcome. The effects of ketamine will be compared with that of the commonly used benzodiazepine anesthetic, midazolam, which is expected to mimic some of the acute dissociative effects of ketamine but not have any sustained anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. Forty individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, combat-related or civilian-related, will be included in the study. Recruitment began in March 2009 and first patient was randomized at the end of May 2009. To date, seven people have been randomized, five of whom have completed the study procedures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA519196
Entities
People
- Dennis Charney
Organizations
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai