Ketamine for Postherpetic Neuralgia With Depression

Launched by HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY · May 5, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at the effects of a low dose of esketamine, given through an IV, combined with an oral medication called duloxetine, to see if it can help people who have postherpetic neuralgia (a type of nerve pain after shingles) and depression. The study will involve two groups: one will receive the esketamine and duloxetine, and the other will receive a placebo (a treatment that looks like the real medication but has no active ingredients) along with duloxetine. Researchers will measure how well these treatments work by checking participants' depression levels two weeks after the treatment.

To be eligible for this trial, participants should be between 18 and 65 years old, diagnosed with postherpetic neuralgia lasting more than a month, and have a certain level of depression. Some people may not be able to participate, such as those with allergies to ketamine or other serious health conditions. If you join this study, you can expect regular check-ins through interviews and phone calls to track your progress. It's important to note that this trial is not yet recruiting participants, but it aims to provide valuable information on improving treatment options for those dealing with both nerve pain and depression.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosed with herpetic neuralgia, with a disease course exceeding 1 month, and an HADS-D score ≥8 (15) upon admission.
• • Diagnosed with depression based on the DSM-V and ICD-11 criteria.
• • Aged between 18 and 65 years old.
• • BMI \<30 kg/m².
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Unable to cooperate with questionnaires.
• • Allergic to ketamine.
• • History of other mental disorders such as anxiety.
• • Severe hypertension and serious dysfunctions of heart, lung, liver, or kidney.