Ketamine Effects on Learning In Eating Disorders

Launched by AMANDA DOWNEY, MD · Dec 12, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of a single dose of ketamine, a medication often used for pain relief and depression, on learning in teenagers and young adults with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa. The aim is to see if ketamine can help improve the ability to think flexibly about food, which may make their time in the hospital less stressful. Researchers will measure the participants' eating disorder symptoms before and after they receive the ketamine infusion.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be between 16 and 26 years old, diagnosed with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa, and currently hospitalized due to malnutrition. They should not have made any changes to their psychiatric medications for a month before joining the trial and must agree to use effective birth control for at least two weeks after receiving ketamine. Participants will receive one dose of ketamine while being monitored in the hospital, and the study will help researchers understand if this treatment can support better learning and coping strategies related to food.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age 16-26 years old
• • 2. Meets diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN) or atypical anorexia nervosa (atypical AN) per DSM-5 criteria on admission
• • 3. Admitted to the medical hospital for malnutrition
• • 4. No changes to psychiatric medications for month prior to trial enrollment
• • 5. Agree to use a highly effective form of contraception for at least two weeks following ketamine administration
• • 6. Have an outpatient primary care provider, medical provider, or behavioral health provider or psychiatrist who is actively managing or coordinating care
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Lifetime history of any psychotic disorder
• • 2. Moderate or severe substance use disorder
• • 3. Pregnancy as indicated by a positive urine pregnancy test during screening, lactation, or the intention of becoming pregnant within 3 months of entry into this trial
• • 4. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment within 30 days prior to enrollment
• • 5. Intellectual or developmental disability
• • 6. High risk for self-harm/suicide
• • 7. Active laxative misuse or abuse
• • 8. Biochemical refeeding syndrome or electrolyte abnormality
• • 9. Cardiac abnormalities identified on admission
• • 10. Taking medications that would be unsafe to administer with ketamine
• • 11. Other medical condition or diagnosis, physical exam finding, laboratory abnormality, or health risk that would increase the risk of adverse events, at the discretion of the investigators