Cited by 41Treatment of Major DepressionElectroconvulsive Therapy StudiesTryptophan and brain disorders

Ketamine metabolite pilot study in a suicidal depression trial

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Grunebaum, Michael F., Galfalvy, Hanga C., Choo, Tse-Hwei, Parris, Michelle S., Burke, Ainsley K., Suckow, Raymond F., Cooper, Thomas B., Mann, J. John·2019·Journal of Psychiatric Research

Abstract

Ketamine shows promise as a rapidly-acting treatment for depression and suicidal ideation, but side effects and abuse potential limit its use. Understanding its mechanism of action could help develop analogous but safer drugs. This post hoc study explored relationships of ketamine and metabolites, including hydroxynorketamine enantiomers, (2S,6S)- and (2R,6R)-HNK, to clinical response in a subgroup from a published trial in suicidal depression. Depressed adults with clinically significant suicidal ideation were randomized to double-blind infusion of sub-anesthetic ketamine or midazolam. Ketamine and metabolites were measured after infusion (N = 53). Plasma (2R,6R)-HNK was associated with change (higher levels correlated with less clinical improvement) from baseline to 24 h post-infusion of depression (HDRS-24: Spearman r = 0.37, p = 0.009) and suicidal thoughts (SSI: Spearman r = 0.29, p = 0.041). There were similar correlations with weekly follow-up clinical rating scores for both HNK enantiomers and dehydronorketamine (DHNK). Ketamine and norketamine were not associated with change in depression or suicidal ideation (unadjusted p > 0.28).

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  • An inverse relationship was observed between (2S,6S;2R,6R)-HNK concentration and antidepressant response at three and seven days after infusion, with lower levels associated with better response.

    “However, an inverse relationship was observed between (2S,6S;2R,6R)-HNK concentration and antidepressant response at three and seven days post-infusion; lower rather than higher levels of (2S,6S;2R,6R)-HNK were associated with improved response [47].”

    From Ketamine in neuropsychiatric disorders: an update (2024) · cites this paper as [47]

    The Results (Associations with 24h Post-Infusion Ratings) report that higher (2R,6R)-HNK levels correlated with less improvement in depressive symptoms at 24 hours. The Results (Associations with Weeks 1–6 Follow-up Ratings) report similar associations for the separately measured HNK enantiomers at certain weekly follow-ups. They do not report an association for combined (2S,6S;2R,6R)-HNK at three and seven days post-infusion. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Despite repeated and robust demonstration of antidepressant effects across animal models with R,R-HNK, higher plasma levels appear to confer less improvement in clinical studies of depression and suicidal ideation.

    “Despite repeated and robust demonstration of antidepressant effects across animal models with R,R-HNK, higher plasma levels appear to confer less improvement in clinical studies of depression and suicidal ideation [59,60].”

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2 of the 42 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Hedegaard HC, C. S; Warner M, 2018 Suicide mortality in the United States, 1999–2017, in: Statistics, N.C.f.H (Ed.). Hyattsville, MD.

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Authors
Grunebaum, M. F., Galfalvy, H. C., Choo, T.-H., Parris, M. S., Burke, A. K., Suckow, R. F., Cooper, T. B., & Mann, J. J.
Affiliations
  • Columbia University Irving Medical Center (US)
  • Columbia University (US)
  • New York State Psychiatric Institute (US)
  • Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (US)
Corresponding author
Grunebaum, Michael F.
Venue
Journal of Psychiatric Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-10
Volume
117
Pages
129-134
ISSN
0022-3956 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2967193400
Cited by
41
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 6
FWCI
2.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
erratum (2019-12-01)
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Psychiatric Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
ketamine, hydroxynorketamine, dehydronorketamine, ketamine metabolites, suicidal depression, suicidal ideation, depression, ketamine enantiomers, midazolam, rapid-acting antidepressants, plasma drug concentration, treatment response
MeSH terms
Adult, Antidepressive Agents, Major Depressive Disorder, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Infusions, Parenteral, Ketamine, Midazolam, Pilot Projects, Severity of Illness Index, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Suicidal Ideation

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