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Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.
Dr
Sara
Costi
+44(0)1865 618303
sara.costi@psych.ox.ac.uk
Prof
Susannah
Murphy
+44 (0)1865 618313
susannah.murphy@psych.ox.ac.uk
Prof
Catherine
Harmer
+44(0)1865 223 961
catherine.harmer@psych.ox.ac.uk
Miss
Chloe
Wigg
+44 (0)7847673197
chloe.wigg@psych.ox.ac.uk
Major depressive disorder
This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.
Clinical depression often involves a pessimistic view of things which have happened in the past and an impairment in the ability to experience pleasure or look forward to things. A licensed drug called ketamine affects the levels of glutamate, a chemical messenger in the brain, and has been used as a treatment, particularly for depression which hasn’t got better with other types of medication. Glutamate plays a role in learning and memory so we are interested in understanding how ketamine can affect how people with depression remember past negative and positive memories. This project will help us understand what is the role of glutamate in depression and will expand our understanding of how ketamine can influence memory, the way people understand emotions and learn from rewards and punishments, and motivation.
Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.
The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:
You can take part if:
You may not be able to take part if:
1. History of /or current DSM.5 bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or emotionally unstable personality disorder [co-morbid anxiety disorders (including agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and panic disorder) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are allowed]2. Participants who fulfill current criteria for other comorbid disorders may still be entered into the study, if, in the opinion of the Investigator, the psychiatric diagnosis will not compromise safety or affect data quality3. Diagnosis of a major cognitive disorder or evidence of cognitive impairment4. Clinically significant risk of suicide5. Participants undergoing or who have undergone electroconvulsive therapy for the treatment of the current episode of depression6. Substance or alcohol use disorder over the past 6 months7. Regular alcohol consumption of more than 21 units a week or excessive alcohol consumption up to three days before any of the in-person study visits or inability to abstain from alcohol for more than 3 days8. Moderate cigarette use (> 10 cigarettes per day)9. History of, or current general medical conditions that in the opinion of the Investigator may interfere with the safety of the participant or the scientific integrity of the study10. Current pregnancy (as determined by urine pregnancy test), breastfeeding, planning a pregnancy, or unwillingness to practice birth control during the study11. Clinically significant abnormalities of laboratory tests, physical examination, or ECG. A participant with a clinical abnormality or parameters outside the reference range for the population being studied may be included only if the Investigator considers that the finding is unlikely to introduce additional risk factors and will not interfere with the study procedures12. Current or history of heart rhythm disorders13. Clinically significant untreated hypertension14. Any contraindication to MRI including claustrophobia, any trauma or surgery which may have left magnetic material in the body, magnetic implants or pacemakers, and inability to lie still for 1 hour or more15. Previous participation in a study using the same, or similar, emotional processing tasks in the last three months16. Previous lifetime use of ketamine or phencyclidine17. Participants with planned medical treatment within the study period that might interfere with the study procedures18. Participant who is unlikely to comply with the clinical study protocol or is unsuitable for any other reason, in the opinion of the Investigator.
Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.
Prof
Susannah
Murphy
+44 (0)1865 618313
susannah.murphy@psych.ox.ac.uk
Dr
Sara
Costi
+44(0)1865 618303
sara.costi@psych.ox.ac.uk
Miss
Chloe
Wigg
+44 (0)7847673197
chloe.wigg@psych.ox.ac.uk
Prof
Catherine
Harmer
+44(0)1865 223 961
catherine.harmer@psych.ox.ac.uk
The study is sponsored by University of Oxford and funded by Medical Research Council; Wellcome Trust; Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve the quality of the study information on this site. Please answer both questions.
You can print or share the study information with your GP/healthcare provider or contact the research team directly.
