Ketamine perception focus groups
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patient perceptions of ketamine treatment for depression: Focus Groups
IRAS ID
248111
Contact name
Reza Razavi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 3 months, 28 days
Research summary
Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and results in substantial personal, social and economic consequences. Although many effective antidepressant treatment strategies are available, approximately one-third of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) do not achieve remission.
Previous work has shown a rapid and robust antidepressant effect lasting one to two weeks following administration of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ketamine to patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD). These promising results have led to growing media interest in the use of ketamine in psychiatric disorders over the past 15 years. Clinicians are legally allowed to prescribe the drug, although it has not been approved as a treatment of depression. Despite relatively scarce information on the consequences of repeated and longer-term use for depression and the abuse potential, media reporting about ketamine as a new breakthrough in the treatment of depression is widespread. This has encouraged many patients to request ketamine treatment and commercial clinics in the USA are offering the treatment on a large scale. The Ketamine Advocacy Network aims for ketamine treatment to be widely offered, and a wide variety of patients are eager to try the experimental treatment, sometimes prior to conventional evidence-based antidepressant treatment. Others have taken the approach that clinical implementation of ketamine treatment is premature and should wait for better evidence on effects and side effects.
We will conduct qualitative focus groups to understand the attitudes of individuals who are considering ketamine as an antidepressant option, as well as the attitudes of individuals who have used ketamine as an antidepressant. Participants will be provided with an information sheet and Consent will be taken by a trained researcher. A thematic analysis will be performed on the focus group data. We believe this work will help inform policy and practical decisions about its clinical use.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0232
Date of REC Opinion
23 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion