Study of Ketamine for Youth Depression (SKY-D)

The primary aim of this research project is to determine if a 4-week course of low-dose subcutaneous ketamine is an effective treatment for young people (males and females aged 16-25 years) with moderate-to-severe depression. Participants will be randomised to receive either low-dose subcutaneous ketamine or a blinded control treatment that is therapeutically inactive (midazolam), given once a week for 4 weeks. Change in depression scores will be assessed at the end of the treatment phase at week 4, with further assessment at weeks 8 and 26 to assess whether treatment effects are sustained. It is hypothesised that ketamine will be an effective treatment for moderate-to-severe depression in young people.