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NCT Number: NCT03185819

Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of 3 Fixed Doses of Intranasal Esketamine in Addition to Comprehensive Standard of Care for the Rapid Reduction of the Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder, Including Suicidal Ideation, in Pediatric Participants Assessed to be at Imminent Risk for Suicide

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of a single (first) dose of 3 fixed doses of intranasal esketamine {28 milligram (mg), 56 mg, and 84 mg} compared with psychoactive placebo (oral midazolam) in rapidly reducing the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) including suicidal ideation in participants 12 to less than 18 years of age who are assessed to be at imminent risk for suicide.

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Key information

Age range

9 year–17 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Hopital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium

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About this study

This study will enroll participants with major depressive disorder (MDD) presenting with suicidal ideation who are assessed to be at imminent risk for suicide. The study will be conducted in 4 phases: a screening evaluation performed within 48 hours prior to Day 1 intranasal dose; a 25-day double-blind treatment phase (Days 1-25); an 8-week initial post-treatment phase (Days 25-81); and a subsequent phase to complete a full 6-month post-treatment follow-up (Days 81-200). Efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetic, biomarker, and pharmacogenomic evaluations will be performed in the study at defined schedule. The duration of the participant's participation will be approximately 29 weeks. If you or a loved one are having thoughts of suicide, please seek immediate medical help. Go to the emergency room or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Participants must meet diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edition) {DSM-5} diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD), without psychotic features, based upon clinical assessment and confirmed by the mini international neuropsychiatric interview for children and adolescents (MINI KID)
  • Participant must have a children's depression rating scale-revised (CDRS-R) total score of equal or more than (>=) 58 predose on Day 1
  • As part of standard of care treatment, participant must agree to be hospitalized voluntarily for a recommended period of 5 days after randomization (may be shorter or longer if clinically warranted in the investigator's opinion)
  • As part of the newly initiated or optimized standard of care treatment, participant must agree to take one of the prescribed non-investigational antidepressant medications (fluoxetine, escitalopram, sertraline; and 9-11 years old participants at US-sites only: fluoxetin [preferred], sertraline) at least during the double-blind treatment phase (Day 25)
  • As part of standard of care treatment, participant must agree to participate in a specific psychological intervention (individual cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT], interpersonal therapy, family therapy or psychodynamic psychotherapy) at least through the initial 8-week post-treatment follow-up period (Day 81)

Exclusion criteria

  • Participants has a current DSM-5 diagnosis of bipolar (or related disorders), intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, conduct disorder, anorexia nervosa, oppositional defiant disorder, or obsessive compulsive disorder
  • Participants currently meets DSM-5 criteria for borderline personality disorder. Participants not meeting full DSM-5 criteria for borderline personality disorder but exhibiting recurrent suicidal gestures, threats, or self-mutilating behaviors should also be excluded
  • Participant has a current or prior DSM-5 diagnosis of a psychotic disorder or MDD with psychosis
  • Participant meets the DSM-5 severity criteria for moderate or severe substance or alcohol use disorder (except for nicotine or caffeine) within the 6 months before screening. A history (lifetime) of ketamine, phencyclidine (PCP), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or 3, 4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) hallucinogen-related use disorder is exclusionary
  • Participant has a history of seizure disorder

Treatment and study plan

Intranasal placebo

Drug

Participants will receive placebo as intranasal dose to match intranasal esketamine.

Midazolam Placebo Solution

Drug

Participants will receive placebo as oral dose to match midazolam drug.

midazolam

Drug

Participants will receive midazolam solution 0.125 mg/kg as oral dose to match placebo.

Esketamine

Drug

Participants will receive esketamine at a dose of 28 mg as intranasal solution.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change From Baseline in Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) Total Score at 24 Hours Post First Dose (Day 2)

    Time frame: Baseline (predose on Day 1) and 24 hours post first dose on Day 1 (i.e., Day 2)

    The CDRS-R is a validated 17- item, clinician-rated instrument developed to assess depressive symptomatology in children. Scores were based on interviews with both the child and their caregiver. Of the 17-item, 3 items were non-verbal behavior (listless speech, hypoactivity, and depressed affect) rated on a 5-point scale from 1 (no depression) to 5 (severe depression) and 14 items were rated on a 7-point scale from 1 (no depression) to 7 (severe depression), where higher score indicated more severe depression. The CDRS-R total score was the sum of the 17-tems score and it ranged from 17 (normal) to 113 (severe depression). Higher score indicated more severe depression and worse outcome.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Double-blind, Randomized, Psychoactive Placebo-controlled, Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of 3 Fixed Doses (28 mg, 56 mg and 84 mg) of Intranasal Esketamine in Addition to Comprehensive Standard of Care for the Rapid Reduction of the Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder, Including Suicidal Ideation, in Pediatric Subjects Assessed to be at Imminent Risk for Suicide

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Jun 14, 2017
Registry last updated
Apr 29, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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