Project Summary

Po W. Wang, M.D. (Young Investigator 2008) of Stanford University Medical Center, will assess the antidepressant efficacy of using ketamine anesthesia, compared to using a standard anesthetic agent (etomidate), with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for treatment-resistant depression in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Bipolar I Disorder (BD-I), or Bipolar II Disorder (BD-II). Ketamine is a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, and NMDA antagonists have been shown to prevent depression-like symptoms in a rodent model. This proposal involves advancing and integrating prior findings to assess the antidepressant efficacy of ketamine as an anesthetic induction agent in patients receiving ECT for treatment-resistant depression. Data from this study may enhance the treatment outcome of this clinical sub-group of high morbidity, treatment-resistant depressed patients.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS

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