Ketamine and Neurofeedback as Combined Therapeutic Interventions to Target Glutamatergic Neurotransmission in Alcohol Use Disorder

For decades, addiction research has focused predominantly on the dopaminergic system. However, preclinical research suggests that alterations of glutamatergic neurotransmission within the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) are crucial for cue-induced drug-seeking behavior, at least in animal models of addiction (Kalivas, 2009). In line with this, three randomized controlled trials have been conducted exploring ketamine as a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) or harmful drinking, each combining ketamine with either memory retrieval destabilization procedures or psychological therapy (Dakwar et al., 2020a; Das et al., 2019a; Grabski et al., 2022a). While ketamine consistently reduced alcohol use in these studies, the variability in treatment responses highlights the need for further investigation into the role of the glutamate system in AUD as well as optimal treatment approaches that maximize safety and efficacy for patients.

Given the significant need to advance both mechanistic and clinical understanding of AUD, this study aims to: (1) explore the role of glutamatergic neurotransmission in AUD; (2) determine whether ketamine can modulate potentially pathophysiological altered glutamate neurotransmission, and how such modulation may be influenced by ketamine metabolism ; and (3) optimize ketamine as a treatment for AUD by leveraging synergies between the additional biological mechanism of action of ketamine (i.e., induced neuroplasticity) and a targeted non-pharmacological neuromodulatory intervention, such as neurofeedback training (NFT), to maximize clinical outcomes.

To evaluate both the mechanistic and therapeutic effects of a single ketamine infusion and rt-fMRI NFT as well as their combined application on AUD, we will assess glutamatergic signalling in the NAcc, changes in neuroplasticity via BDNF, inter-individual differences in the metabolism of ketamine, and clinical symptoms in individuals with AUD.

Therefore, in this randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, parallel group, single centre study we investigate the extend to which a single administration of ketamine and neurofeedback training, as well as the combination of the two interventions can restore neurobiological changes related to alcoholism and what effect this new treatment method has on the symptoms of AUD.

Inclusion criteria

• Informed Consent as documented by signature
• In- and outpatients aged 18 to 65 years of all sexes.
• DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (mild - severe).
• Motivation to reduce or stop alcohol use
• Normal level of language comprehension (German or Swiss-German)
• Good physical health with no unstable medical conditions
• Participants of childbearing potential must use an effective and established method of contraception for the entire study duration
• Comply with the study protocol as explained by investigator

Exclusion criteria

• History of DSM-IV severe drug dependence other than alcohol (except for caffeine or nicotine) and any opiod use disorder within two months prior to enrolment.
• Hallucinogen and ketamine use 3 months prior to study participation (including regular microdosing).
• Alcohol withdrawal symptoms at any of the treatment visits (V2 and V3) (CIWA-Ar Scale >9).
• Current or lifetime psychotic disorders
• History of severe substance-induced psychosis
• Current or lifetime bipolar I or II disorders
• Current suicidality
• Previous suicide attempts during the last 2 years
• High risk of adverse emotional and behavioral reactions
• Unmedicated or unstable hypertension
• Severe illness (e. g. myocardial ischemia or arrythmias, severe pulmonary secretions, glaucoma, congestive heart failure or angina, significant renal or hepatic impairment)
• Acute infection (e. g. pulmonary or upper respiratory tract infection)
• Insufficient treated or uncorrected hyperthyroidism
• Severe central nervous system related traumas or disorders (e. g. stroke, cerebral trauma with loss of consciousness over more than 24h, epilepsy)
• During the study, new use or dose changes of already existing concomitant medication without prior informing the investigators.
• Taking medications that are known to modualte uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase-enzyme
• Medication directly affecting glutamate signaling (e. g. anticonvulsant medication)
• Inhibitors of UGT1A9 and 1A10 should be discontinued at least five half-lives prior to the administration of ketamine.
• Monoamine oxidase and aldehyde or alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors should be discontinued at least 5 half-lives prior to the dose of ketamine.
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Women of childbearing potential with no use of medically accepted contraceptive (e. g. condoms, contraceptive diaphragm, birth control pill, hormone injection, intrauterine device)
• BMI < 17 or > 35
• Allergy, hypersensitivity, or other adverse reaction to previous use of ketamine
• Contradictions to magnetic resonance imaging
• Concurrent participation in other clinical study