Comparative Effectiveness Study of Two Forms of Ketamine for Treatment-resistant Depression

Comparative Effectiveness Study of Two Forms of Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression: a Randomised, Rater-blinded Trial

The goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two formulations of ketamine - Spravato® and racemic ketamine - in people with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The main questions it aims to answer are:

• How the two formulations compare in terms of their effectiveness in treating TRD.
• How the two formulations compare in their acceptability to patients, safety, effects on patient quality of life and function, and cost effectiveness.

Participants will be randomised to receive either Spravato® or racemic ketamine treatment and asked to complete some questionnaires to assess the effects on mood, treatment acceptability, side effects, quality of life and function, and health economic outcomes.

The TREK study is a randomized, prospective, rater blinded (primary outcome raters), parallel group, comparative effectiveness trial of racemic ketamine and Spravato®, comparing their effectiveness, acceptability, safety, effects on quality of life (QOL), function and cost effectiveness after 4 weeks - 6 months of treatment in people with TRD.

Participants will be recruited from clinics/hospitals that are providing racemic ketamine and Spravato® treatment services for TRD. Participants will be referred, treated and followed up as per the clinic's normal clinical practice. Participants who consent to participate in this research study will undergo other processes in addition to the standard treatment procedures provided by their clinic:

• Randomisation to receive racemic ketamine or Spravato®.
• Completion of questionnaires to measure treatment effects on mood, acceptability, safety, quality of life and function and cost effectiveness.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult with treatment-resistant depression (TRD: not responded adequately to at least two different antidepressants of adequate dose and duration) who has a current depressive episode (DSM 5)
• Assessed and attested by clinic psychiatrist as appropriate to receive either racemic ketamine or Spravato® ketamine treatment for TRD
• MADRS score of ≥20 at study baseline, assessed by certified study rater
• Aged ≥18 years
• Written informed consent for research study obtained

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not able to give informed consent
• Any physical or mental condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, could interfere with study participation including outcome assessments
• Any treatment with ketamine or Spravato® within 4 weeks prior to written informed consent for the research study
• Patients who require an interpreter/translator for the clinic consent process, due to the infeasibility of obtaining an interpreter for research assessments, including self-rated scales