The Effect of Ketamine on Attentiveness

Schizophrenia Clinical Trial

Official title: Investigate the Effect of S-Ketamine, as Pharmacological Model of Schizophrenia, on the Attentiveness and Working Memory Simultaneously Measured With Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging(fMRI)/Electroencephalogram(EEG)

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The objective of this study is to develop an exploratory design for future Proof-of-Concept trials which reliably and accurately measure the central nervous system (CNS) effects of potentially new drugs that oppose the effects of ketamine at a subanesthetic dose level given to healthy volunteers. A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalogram (EEG) performed simultaneously during a ketamine challenge will register the effects triggered by Ketamine.

Clinical Trial Description

This will be a double-blind (neither physician nor patient knows the name of the assigned drug), placebo-controlled, randomized (study drug assigned by chance), 2 way crossover ketamine challenge study (participants may receive different interventions sequentially during the trial) in 24 healthy male volunteers. For all participants, this study will consist of an eligibility screening examination, two 2-day treatment periods, separated by at least 1 week, and a follow-up examination about 7 days after last dose administration. The maximal study participation for each volunteer will be around 6 weeks. Apart from observing possible neural and vascular ketamine effects, the cerebral ketamine effects will be investigated by simultaneously performing fMRI/EEG during ketamine administration. These investigations will be done while volunteers rest as well as during cognitive testing (visual oddball task). Safety evaluations include continuous monitoring of vital signs and oxygen saturation. Due to the pharmacokinetic properties of ketamine the assessments will start after an intravenous ketamine bolus (drug given directly into the vein over a short period of time) followed by a 1 minute break. During the assessments there is a continuous intravenous (minimal) drug administration. Before the assessments start there will be an intravenous bolus of 0.1 mg/kg ketamine in 5 minutes time followed by a 1 minute break after which a continuous infusion will start of 0.015625 mg/kg/min ketamine. Since the plasma level elevates during the infusion the administered dose will be lowered by 10% every 10 minutes. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Pharmacodynamics Study, Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator), Primary Purpose: Basic Science

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Schizophrenia

• NCT number: NCT01165294
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: October 2009
• Completion date: May 2010