44 Participants Needed

Ketamine for Chronic Lower Back Pain and Depression

SL
VD
Overseen ByVictoria D Powell, MD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Phase 2
Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)
Prior Safety DataThis treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This is a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of ketamine infusions followed by a brief behavioral intervention in Veterans with chronic low back pain and depression.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop your current medications, but it requires no changes in your pain or depression medication regimen for 4 weeks before starting. This suggests you should continue your current medications without changes.

Is ketamine generally safe for humans when used for chronic pain and depression?

Ketamine has been used for chronic pain and depression, and while it can cause side effects like changes in mood, heart rate, and perception, its safety profile is better at lower doses used for these conditions. However, there is limited long-term safety data, and more research is needed to fully understand its safety with repeated use.12345

How does the drug ketamine differ from other treatments for chronic lower back pain and depression?

Ketamine is unique because it works on different brain receptors than typical painkillers and antidepressants, offering pain relief and mood improvement, especially when other treatments have failed. It can be administered in various ways, including epidurally, and has a lower risk of causing breathing problems compared to opioids.15678

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug ketamine for chronic lower back pain and depression?

Research shows that ketamine can be effective in reducing chronic pain and has antidepressant effects, especially in cases where other treatments have failed. It has been used successfully for various chronic pain conditions, including cancer-related pain, and can reduce the need for opioids, which are strong painkillers.1591011

Who Is on the Research Team?

VD

Victoria D Powell, MD

Principal Investigator

VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for veterans who have long-term lower back pain paired with depression. It's a pilot study, which means it's an early test to see if the approach works well and is safe.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a veteran with chronic low back pain, it interferes with my daily life, and I feel significantly depressed.
I haven't been hospitalized for 3 days or more in the last month.
My pain or depression medication has been the same for the last 4 weeks.
See 2 more

Exclusion Criteria

I have high pressure in my brain, aneurysm, or high eye pressure.
I cannot participate because I do not speak English.
Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent (e.g. current delirium)
See 10 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Initial Pilot Phase

Open-label single-arm pilot of ketamine infusions followed by a brief behavioral intervention in a small sample of Veterans

8-10 days
7 visits

Randomized Controlled Trial Phase

Single-blind, two-arm pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial to assess feasibility benchmarks and collect outcome data

1 month
9 visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

3 months
2 visits (1 month and 3 month follow-up)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Brief narrative intervention
  • Ketamine hydrochloride
Trial Overview The study tests ketamine infusions (a type of medication that can affect mood and pain) followed by a short counseling session. The goal is to see if this combo helps more than usual care or just talking about one's life story.
How Is the Trial Designed?
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Open label, single arm pilotExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Group II: Intervention + Minimally Enhanced Usual CareExperimental Treatment3 Interventions
Group III: Minimally Enhanced Usual Care OnlyActive Control2 Interventions

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,691
Recruited
3,759,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Ketamine has been found to be an effective treatment for chronic pain conditions, including cancer-related neuropathic pain, and can help reduce the need for opioids by counteracting opioid-induced hyperalgesia.
At sub-anesthetic doses, ketamine demonstrates a significantly improved safety profile and fewer adverse events compared to its use as an anesthetic, making it a promising option for pain management.
Ketamine Use for Cancer and Chronic Pain Management.Culp, C., Kim, HK., Abdi, S.[2021]
A meta-analysis of 12 studies involving 88 patients indicates that Ketamine significantly reduces neuropathic pain compared to placebo, although the effects are typically short-lived after administration.
Ketamine has shown promise as an alternative to opioids for chronic pain management, with some studies reporting positive long-term outcomes, but further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.
[Ketamine for treatment of chronic pain: meta-analysis].Wiedemann, B.[2019]
In a study of 329 patients with treatment-refractory chronic pain, repeated ketamine administration significantly reduced pain intensity and improved mental and physical health over one year, with a notable effect size of -0.52.
The study found that depression, rather than the dose of ketamine, was the key factor mediating pain relief, suggesting that ketamine's effectiveness in reducing pain is primarily linked to its ability to alleviate depressive symptoms.
Assessment of Initial Depressive State and Pain Relief With Ketamine in Patients With Chronic Refractory Pain.Voute, M., Lambert, C., Pereira, B., et al.[2023]

Citations

Efficacy of outpatient ketamine infusions in refractory chronic pain syndromes: a 5-year retrospective analysis. [2022]
Ketamine Use for Cancer and Chronic Pain Management. [2021]
[Ketamine for treatment of chronic pain: meta-analysis]. [2019]
The use of ketamine in a palliative-supportive care unit: a retrospective analysis. [2018]
Assessment of Initial Depressive State and Pain Relief With Ketamine in Patients With Chronic Refractory Pain. [2023]
A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders. [2022]
[Ketamine and chronic pain: A narrative review of its efficacy and its adverse events]. [2019]
Side-effects associated with ketamine use in depression: a systematic review. [2019]
Epidural ketamine. A preliminary report. [2014]
10.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Repeated and escalating preoperative subanesthetic doses of ketamine for postoperative pain control in patients undergoing tumor resection: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. [2013]
11.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Ketamine in chronic pain management: an evidence-based review. [2022]
Unbiased ResultsWe believe in providing patients with all the options.
Your Data Stays Your DataWe only share your information with the clinical trials you're trying to access.
Verified Trials OnlyAll of our trials are run by licensed doctors, researchers, and healthcare companies.
Back to top
Terms of Service·Privacy Policy·Cookies·Security