Beaglehole said most studies to date are short-term and involve injectable ketamine which causes “quite a considerable trip for the patient”.
“And because, as I said, depression is a long-term problem our study is a bit different,” he said.
“So, we’re giving people a course of ketamine over eight weeks and we’re giving half the participants a course of psychotherapy – one of the recommended treatments for depression – to see if the addition of psychotherapy can maintain, enhance and prolong the effects of ketamine.”
The doses of ketamine will vary depending on each participant’s depression scores, but they’ll receive the injectable ketamine in a liquid sipped slowly over an hour twice a week.
Beaglehole said participants “won’t be out of it” and instead will have mild effects of the drug compared to if they had an injection.
He added that there’s also a second phase to the study where researchers will observe participants’ moods for a further three months after the course finishes.
They’ll be looking at differences between the group who had psychotherapy and those who received ketamine alone.
“We’re trying to figure out if the additional psychotherapy makes a difference, and for participants this could be a bit of a rollercoaster if they do respond to the treatment then their mood might deteriorate and we’re not in a position to keep offering them ketamine after the study ends.”
Researchers are hoping for about 60 people to take part in the trial over three years.
So far, about five people have been recruited for the study.
“We think people will be interested because this is one of the most exciting new treatments on the horizon that we’ve had in a long time,” Beaglehole said.