Ketamine as a Rapidly-Acting Antidepressant in Depressed Emergency Department Patients

Abstract

Investigators will conduct a trial to evaluate the use of Ketamine as an alternate treatment for people with Major Depressive Disorder. This study plans to explore the potential that Ketamine's rapid antidepressant action holds for improving outcomes in patients presenting to the Emergency Department with severe depression. Since this is a controlled trial we will use an IV of Ketamine or and equivalent volume of Diphenhydramine. Subjects will be randomly assigned to receive Ketamine or Benadryl. Investigators will then compare measures of mood pre- and post-infusion in the Emergency Department. To supplement self-reported measures of depressive symptoms(e.g. mood), investigators will obtain objective measures of the biological aspects of Major Depressive Disorder.

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