Ketamine Effects on Learning In Eating Disorders

Enrolling by invitation · Phase 2

Conditions studied: Anorexia Nervosa, Atypical Anorexia Nervosa

In brief

This is a single site, single dose clinical trial of intravenous (IV) ketamine for medically hospitalized adolescents and young adults with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa. Eating disorder symptoms will be measured pre- and post-ketamine infusion. Investigators hypothesize that ketamine will increase cognitive flexibility, making medical hospitalizations less distressing by improving the ability to learn new, positive associations with food.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06736769

Run by

Amanda Downey, MD

People needed

20

Starts

2025-06-05

Expected to finish

2027-06-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-12

Who can join

Age: 16 and older, up to 26. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 16-26 years old
• Meets diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN) or atypical anorexia nervosa (atypical AN) per DSM-5 criteria on admission
• Admitted to the medical hospital for malnutrition
• No changes to psychiatric medications for month prior to trial enrollment
• Agree to use a highly effective form of contraception for at least two weeks following ketamine administration
• Have an outpatient primary care provider, medical provider, or behavioral health provider or psychiatrist who is actively managing or coordinating care

You may not qualify if…

• Lifetime history of any psychotic disorder
• Moderate or severe substance use disorder
• Pregnancy as indicated by a positive urine pregnancy test during screening, lactation, or the intention of becoming pregnant within 3 months of entry into this trial
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment within 30 days prior to enrollment
• Intellectual or developmental disability
• High risk for self-harm/suicide
• Active laxative misuse or abuse
• Biochemical refeeding syndrome or electrolyte abnormality
• Cardiac abnormalities identified on admission
• Taking medications that would be unsafe to administer with ketamine
• Other medical condition or diagnosis, physical exam finding, laboratory abnormality, or health risk that would increase the risk of adverse events, at the discretion of the investigators

Where it is running

• University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, California, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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