Ketamine-Assisted Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of combining IV ketamine, a rapid acting antidepressant, with a course of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), for the initial and maintenance treatment of depression. Both ketamine and MBCT are used for treatment of depression, however, the combination of ketamine and psychotherapy has been studied mostly for drug addiction. Despite its rapid onset and effectiveness for depression, ketamine is most effective in the short term. MBCT is a therapeutic approach that combines cognitive behavioral techniques (CBT) with mindfulness strategies in order to help individuals better understand and manage their thoughts and emotions that can both decrease and prevent the relapse of the symptoms of depression. The aim of this pilot study is to embed one infusion of ketamine in the MBCT treatment. Our hypothesis is that the initial positive effect of ketamine will help patients engage in the behavioral therapy, which itself provides cognitive/emotion control tools to prevent relapses of depression.