Ketamine as an Anaesthetic Agent in Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Research into the mechanisms underlying memory impairment in ECT suggests that its
development may be prevented by the administration of certain medications at the time of ECT
treatment. For example there are reasons to believe that ketamine, also used as an
anaesthetic agent, may have such protective properties.
In this clinical study patients undergoing a course of ECT will be offered the opportunity to
receive a small dose of ketamine (or a placebo) as part of their anaesthetic at the time of
ECT treatment. Mood changes and any memory changes will be evaluated to see if the subjects
who received ketamine had less memory side effects than those who did not, while still
improving their depression.