Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

This study aims to determine if a single intravenous (IV) dose of ketamine given in the emergency department (ED) can provide a long term reduction in suicidal ideation, lower time to ED discharge, and increase discharge to home or voluntary treatment facilities all while being safe.


Clinical Trial Description

Suicide has risen to the 2nd leading cause of death in Americans aged 10 to 34, and is the10th leading cause of death overall. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates one person dies of suicide every 40 seconds. Despite its lethality, no recognized acute treatments for suicidality exist. Recently, ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonist, has been shown to rapidly reduce suicidality in small studies in psychiatric settings. However, most patients with acute suicidal thoughts are treated initially in Emergency Departments (EDs). Delays in treatment have both short and long term impacts on recovery as patients spend longer time frames in an actively suicidal state.

Identifying a rapid and effective treatment for suicidal ideation that can be administered in the ED would have a profound impact on the emergent management of patients with suicidal thoughts. Ketamine is an FDA approved medication that is commonly used in EDs for multiple indications. EDs have the familiarity, facilities and personnel to safely administer IV ketamine.

Ketamine is regularly used in EDs in high doses for procedural sedation in adults and children. It is also used in high doses as a sedative for acutely agitated patients. In low-doses ketamine is frequently used for its analgesic properties and is considered safe.

Ketamine has also been safely used in the pre-hospital setting. In a recent joint policy statement of the American College of Emergency Physicians recommended the use of low-dose ketamine for pain in control with a safety profile comparable to other intravenous analgesia such as morphine.

Use of Ketamine to rapidly reduce suicidality may facilitate a safe and faster transition of acutely suicidal patients to outpatient treatment. Such treatment potentially shortens these patients' ED and hospital lengths of stay. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT03502551
Study type Interventional
Source University of California, Davis
Contact
Status Withdrawn
Phase Phase 2
Start date April 1, 2019
Completion date June 30, 2019

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT04127292 - Impact of Clinician Virtual Human Interaction Training in Emotional Self-Awareness on Patients Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Crisis Syndrome N/A
Recruiting NCT06079853 - Nurse Suicide: Physiologic Sleep Health Promotion Trial N/A
Recruiting NCT05423483 - Developing an Intervention to Promote Lethal Means Safety in Suicidal Adolescents Phase 2
Completed NCT03272048 - Identifying Effective Approaches to Counseling on Firearm Safety N/A
Completed NCT05514587 - Meaning of Life Questionnaire (MLQ) in Patients Admitted to the Crisis Centre (MSVCAC)
Enrolling by invitation NCT05639426 - Preventing Youth Violence Through Building Equitable Communities N/A
Completed NCT03703128 - Suicide in People Aged 45-60: A Case-control Psychological Autopsy Study
Completed NCT03646903 - Reducing Help-Seeking Stigma in Young Adults at Elevated Suicide Risk N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT05558332 - Youth Nominated Support Team N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT06349915 - A Pilot Evaluation of a Digital Peer Support Intervention for Suicidal Adolescents N/A
Completed NCT02718248 - Ottawa Suicide Prevention in Men Pilot Study N/A
Completed NCT02094898 - Ketamine for Depression and Suicide Risk Phase 2
Completed NCT01594138 - Linguistic Characteristics of Suicidal Patients in the Emergency Department N/A
Completed NCT01360736 - A Brief Intervention to Reduce Suicide Risk in Military Service Members and Veterans - Study 2 (SAFEMIL) N/A
Completed NCT02228044 - Alcohol, Suicide and HIV Prevention for Teens in Mental Health Treatment N/A
Completed NCT00604097 - Preventing Youth Suicide in Primary Care: A Family Model Phase 3
Completed NCT00387855 - An Evaluation of the SOS (Suicide Prevention) Program N/A
Recruiting NCT03519802 - Evaluation of Cognitive Function in a Suicidal Crisis
Completed NCT05580757 - Pharmacists as Gate Keepers in Suicide Prevention: Needs of Pharmacists
Recruiting NCT03030924 - Wearable Suicidal Early Warning System for Adolescents