Not Yet RecruitingEarly Phase 1ketamine

Effects of Intranasal Ketamine on Depression and Anxiety in Palliative Care Cancer Patients

NCT ID

NCT06665568

Target Enrollment

100 participants

Start Date

2025-04

Est. Completion

2026-12

About This Study

With progression of cancer, patients and their caregivers experience challenging emotional distress, which can make them feel depressed and very anxious. Patients with advanced cancer often do not have long to live. However, most antidepressants take a long time to act and cause unwanted side effects. There is hence a need for a fast acting antidepressant with fewer unwanted side effects. Ketamine is an effective and fast acting antidepressant originating from pain treatment, which has few unwanted side effects. It can be taken by a patient as a nasal spray when it is needed. The idea of treating depression and anxiety in cancer patients in palliative care with ketamine nasal spray is new. How effective ketamine will be at reducing depression and anxiety in patients is unknown . It is also unknown whether this kind of treatment will be safe and practical for palliative care patients. This study aims to answer these questions. Patients will be treated with a low dose (5 mg) of ketamine nasal spray and then measure its effectiveness, practicality and safety. Questionnaires will be used to measure these outcomes. If treating depression and anxiety with ketamine nasal spray proves to be effective, practical and safe, then it could help to improve the quality of life for palliative care patients and reduce the burden of their caregivers.

Conditions Studied

Depressive Symptoms Mild to Moderate in SeverityAnxietyQuality of Life (QOL)Caregiver BurdenSleep Quality

Interventions

•Intranasal ketamine hydrochloride

Eligibility

Age:18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers:No

View full eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria (patients):

* Informed Consent as documented by signature;
* HADS total score of 6 or greater;
* Age 18 years or older;
* Progressive cancer diagnosis (estimated life expectancy 24 months or more)
* Able to attend study visits;
* Ability to speak and understand German;

Exclusion Criteria (patients):

* Clinician assessed cognitive impairment;
* Clinician assessed alcohol or drug abuse;
* Pregnancy or breast-feeding;
* Severe hypertension (greater than 200/120 mmHg);
* Anamnestic mood disorder (major depressive disorder, treatment resistant depression, etc.);
* Suicidality (C-SSRS total score of "low" or less);
* Weight less than 39 kg, greater than 170 kg;
* Angina pectoris or myocardial infarction in the last 6 months;
* Lifetime abuse or dependence on ketamine or phencyclidine;
* Substance abuse or dependence in the 6 months before screen;
* Nasal obstructions or history of nasal surgery.
* Serious health risk caused by increased blood pressure or intracranial pressure:
* Known aneurysmal vascular disease (including intracranial, thoracic or abdominal aortic or peripheral arterial vessels);
* Known history of intracerebral hemorrhage;
* Recent (within 6 weeks) cardiovascular event including myocardial infarction (MI).

Inclusion criteria (caregivers):

* Informed Consent as documented by signature;
* Age 18 years or older;
* Able to attend study visits;
* Ability to speak and understand German.

Exclusion criteria (caregivers):

\- None.

Study Locations (1)

University Hospital Zurich