The Research Process
Deciding whether or not to participate in research is a big decision. Always remember, participation in research in voluntary. That means you can change your mind at any time!
CURRENT STUDIES
Ketamine for Major Depressive Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
- The main goal is to better understand brain connections, thought processes, and symptoms in veterans with both PTSD and depression.
- Everyone who participates in this study will complete baseline assessments, which include: interviews, surveys, MRand computer based thinking tasks. Afterwards everyone will undergo an MRI brain scan.
- There are 4 groups of participants, where 1 groups with undergo infusions and 3 groups will not. We won't know whether you qualify for the infusions or not until after you complete the baseline assessments.
- Participants with PTSD+MDD will undergo a series of baseline assessments including a baseline functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) then be randomized to receive either 6 ketamine or 6 normal saline infusions on a Monday-Friday schedule over 3 weeks. On the day of infusion, participants will be required to stay at the clinical site for 2 hours after the infusion has been given. They will also be monitored via a phone call on the following day. After the infusion period has been completed participants will undergo a follow-up fMRI then 4 follow-up visits, up to 2 months.
- Additional participants will be enrolled in healthy control, depression only, and PTSD only groups and will only undergo baseline assessments, including a single fMRI.
- The baseline assessments take about 4 hours to complete and may be split into two 2 hours visits and the MRI brain scan will be a separate visit and will last around 2 hours. All visits take place at the Minneapolis VA except for the MRI scan, which takes place at the University of Minnesota Center for Magnetic Resonance Research.
We are looking for veterans of any era or military background between the ages of 18-75 years old to participate.