832. The Maudsley Advanced Treatment Service: Maudsley Ketamine Clinical Research Experience
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology September 9, 2026 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyag040.137 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Service evaluation narrative with clinical trajectories, plus summary of a Phase 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and a Phase 2 protocol Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 42 |
| Population | Patients with treatment-resistant depression or bipolar depression referred to the Maudsley Advanced Treatment Service since 2019; healthy volunteers in the linked Phase 1 oral ketamine study |
| Interventions | Intranasal esketamine sublingual racemic ketamine intravenous ketamine subcutaneous s-ketamine subcutaneous racemic ketamine |
| Dose | Intranasal esketamine 28–84 mg; sublingual racemic ketamine 80–240 mg; IV/subcutaneous ketamine 0.5–1.0 mg/kg; oral KET-IR 40–240 mg |
| Measures | MADRS |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Key points | The authors report that 42 patients with highly complex treatment-resistant or bipolar depression received ketamine/esketamine via multiple routes, with MADRS tracking showing sustained symptom reduction and periods of remission-level scores under maintenance strategies. The linked Phase 1 oral ketamine study (40–240 mg) reported no serious adverse events, mild-to-moderate dose-related effects, dissociation peaking around one hour, and dose-proportional pharmacokinetics. The authors argue this governance-led model supports pragmatic route sequencing and longer-term maintenance, though optimal duration, long-term safety, and maintenance algorithms remain uncertain. |
Abstract
Abstract Background Ketamine has rapid antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects in treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but optimal implementation, route selection, and longer-term maintenance strategies remain areas of active clinical development. At the Maudsley Advanced Treatment Service (MATS), ketamine and esketamine are delivered within a specialist governance framework, using multiple formulations/routes to individualise treatment for complex, difficult-to-treat affective disorders. Aims & Objectives Method Service evaluation narrative plus clinical trajectories from MATS ketamine since service inception. Patients referred with TRD or bipolar depression are assessed by the MDT; decisions regarding formulation/route and dosing are made collaboratively with patients and families, supported by controlled-drug governance, monitoring protocols, and informed consent for off-label use. MATS research activity is summarised using findings from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study of immediate-release oral ketamine (KET-IR) in healthy volunteers and protocol for Phase 2 in TRD and Bipolar Depression type II Results Since 2019, 42 patients (mean age 49.2 years, SD 10.8) have received ketamine-based interventions at MATS; most had TRD (76.2%, n=32) with a minority with bipolar depression (23.8%, n=10). Clinical complexity was high, including prior suicide attempts (n=25), previous psychiatric admissions (n=22), and prior ECT exposure (n=16). Routes used included intranasal esketamine (n=15), sublingual racemic ketamine (n=18), intravenous ketamine (n=6), subcutaneous s-ketamine (n=8), and subcutaneous racemic ketamine (n=12); note that some patients received more than one route as part of sequencing or optimisation. Dosing ranges reflected formulation (e.g., intranasal esketamine 28–84 mg; sublingual racemic ketamine 80–240 mg; IV/subcutaneous ketamine 0.5–1.0 mg/kg). It demonstrated sustained symptom reduction with maintenance strategies combining subcutaneous dosing and ongoing oral/sublingual regimens, as tracked by MADRS over time, with periods of remission-level scores and symptom variability. Clinical research (KET-IR): In the Phase 1 KET-IR study (40–240 mg), ascending doses were generally well tolerated with no serious adverse events reported; adverse events were mild/moderate and dose-related dissociation was observed, peaking around 1 hour post-dose, with most measures returning to baseline within hours. Pharmacokinetics were dose proportional across the evaluated range. Discussion & Conclusions MATS demonstrates a specialist, governance-led model for delivering ketamine/esketamine across routes to meet the needs of highly complex TRD and bipolar depression populations, integrating structured consent, controlled-drug oversight, and physiological monitoring. Real-world experience supports the pragmatic sequencing of routes and the feasibility of longer-term maintenance in selected individuals, while ongoing uncertainties exist about optimal duration, long-term safety, and best maintenance algorithms. Parallel MATS-linked research on oral KET-IR provides early supportive safety/PK/PD signals that may enable scalable oral strategies and future hospital-to-home models, warranting further efficacy trials in TRD and Bipolar Depression.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subanesthetic Effects of the Noncompetitive NMDA Antagonist, Ketamine, in Humans Healthy human subjects recruited from the community | 1994 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 19 |
| Antidepressant Efficacy of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: A Two-Site Randomized Controlled Trial Patients with treatment-resistant major depression experiencing a major depressive episode | 2013 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
| Remifentanil-induced Postoperative Hyperalgesia and Its Prevention with Small-dose Ketamine Patients undergoing major abdominal surgery | 2005 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 75 |
| Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment of Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Patients with chronic PTSD related to a range of trauma exposures | 2014 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Ketamine-Induced Deficits in Auditory and Visual Context-Dependent Processing in Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers | 2000 | Single-blind placebo-controlled study | n = 20 |