Status:

UNKNOWN

Conscious Dying/Conscious Living: Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Lead Sponsor:

The Ketamine Research Foundation

Conditions:

Illness Terminal

Eligibility:

All Genders

18-85 years

Phase:

PHASE2

Brief Summary

The Conscious Dying/Conscious Living study will investigate the effect of KAP (ketamine-assisted psychotherapy) on individuals with terminal illness at five separate geographic locations. Two separate...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • Decision making capacity including conscious awareness and sufficient memory capacity.
  • Ability to provide informed consent.
  • Understanding of English language and ability to converse.
  • 12 months or less life expectancy by prognosis.
  • Age 18-85.
  • Able to identify one or two Caregiver/Support Person(s) (relative, spouse, close friend, or other caregiver) who willing provide the following functions: 1) to drive the participant home on medication visits (if applicable), 2) to be reached by Clinical Investigator(s) in the event of a subject becoming suicidal or ill, and 3) to provide collateral information as needed. See Appendix D for Consent form.
  • Have significant anxiety about impending death with a STAI Trait score of 45 or greater.
  • If the individual has a documented history of anxiety disorder, the patient and investigator are in agreement that the individual's present anxiety is primarily resultant from or exacerbated by their illness and approaching death.
  • May continue but not change psychiatric medications during the course of the study.
  • May continue but not change therapists during the course of the study.
  • Willing to refrain from using stimulants, anxiolytics, and PI designated medications during the day of the study sessions.
  • Willing to refrain from using alcohol and marijuana for 24 hours before-- and the day of study sessions.
  • Agrees to refrain from the use of any psychoactive drug during the course of the study., this referring to "Any drug that affects the nervous system leading to any or all of the following: Alterations in mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings, perception, cognition, or behavior.
  • If necessary, are willing to be contacted via telephone on a daily basis by one of the therapists for a week after each experimental session

Exclusion

  • Clinical evidence of significant dementia or other cognitive impairment.
  • Hypertension: Defined as Systolic greater than 145 or Diastolic greater than 95.
  • History in intracranial bleeds or stroke.
  • History of seizures.
  • Known hypersensitivity to ketamine
  • Class 2 or above heart disease.
  • Below age 18 or above age 85.
  • Subjects who are assessed to be at high risk of suicidal ideation or behavior.
  • Have a history (or current diagnosis) of any of the following psychiatric disorders: a primary psychotic disorder, bipolar affective disorder type 1, dissociative identity disorder, an eating disorder (i.e., anorexia or bulimia), or a personality disorder that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the patient's participation in the study.
  • IF receiving medication that may cause blunting of responses, and diminished affect such as antipsychotics, exclusion will be as per the evaluation of the PI and staff.
  • Have evidence or history of significant (controlled or uncontrolled) cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease, or any other medical disorder judged by the Principal Investigator(s) to significantly increase the risk of ketamine administration. Baseline Heart rate 110BPM or less; Greater than 50 BPM.
  • Renal failure and dialysis.
  • If on oxygen support, receiving no more than 4 liters
  • Are experiencing cognitive and/or affective deficits as a result of ongoing chemotherapy that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the subject's ability to participate in the study.
  • Have evidence or history of liver disease that would affect metabolism of ketamine. Transaminases do not exceed 3 times normal range
  • Meet DSM-V criteria for substance abuse or dependence for any substance in the past sixty days except caffeine or nicotine-with the exception of opiates used prn for pain.
  • Pregnant and Lactating Women
  • Have any current problem, which in the opinion of the Principal Investigator(s) might interfere with participation in the study
  • Are not able to give adequate informed consent
  • Patients referred to our study who have by history electrolyte abnormalities (e.g., hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia), congestive heart failure, bradyarrhythmias, or patients taking concomitant medications that prolong the QT interval will be excluded as ondansetron may need to be used.
  • Patients who are allergic to ondansetron will be excluded

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

May 1 2022

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ESTIMATED

End Date :

March 31 2024

Estimated Enrollment :

120 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT05214417

Start Date

May 1 2022

End Date

March 31 2024

Last Update

February 25 2022

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