Sustained pharmacodynamic effects of S‐ketamine on cortical excitability and resting‐state brain activity: A randomized, placebo‐controlled trial
Catherine M. K. E. de Cuba, Annika A. de Goede, Joost. C. van Mechelen, Laura G. J. M. Borghans, Liam van der Aa, Erik Olofsen, Maria J. Juachon, Robert J. Doll, Amy Gillespie, Catherine J. Harmer, Gabriël E. Jacobs, Jules A. A. C. HeubergerAims
This study aimed to investigate a set of pharmacodynamic biomarkers reflecting acute, delayed and sustained central nervous system effects of S‐ketamine, used as a tool compound for rapid‐acting antidepressant activity, with the goal of informing biomarker strategies for delayed antidepressant effects.
Methods
In this randomized, double‐blind, double‐dummy, placebo‐controlled, 4‐way crossover study in 16 healthy participants, we administered S‐ketamine in a therapeutic intravenous dose (IV), a low and high oral dose, versus placebo. Measurements were conducted from baseline up to 7 days post‐dose using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation combined with electromyography (TMS‐EMG) and encephalography (TMS‐EEG), pharmaco‐electroencephalography (pEEG), alongside drug and metabolite plasma concentrations. Outcomes were analysed using mixed‐effects ANCOVA and cluster‐based permutation testing. Post‐hoc concentration–effect relationships were explored.
Results
IV S‐ketamine induced an acute reduction in motor‐evoked potential (MEP) amplitude and sustained attenuation of long‐interval intracortical inhibition (LICI 50 ), the latter showing a linear concentration–effect relationship with the parent compound. Acute TEP modulation was observed across all treatments, whereas delayed effects occurred only after IV and high‐dose oral. pEEG showed acute reductions in alpha, beta and delta power (eyes closed) and sustained increases in delta power (eyes open) following IV and high‐dose oral S‐ketamine; with delta power exhibiting a less analyte‐specific linear concentration–effect relationship.
Conclusion
We provide evidence suggestive of delayed pharmacodynamic effects of S‐ketamine in healthy participants sustained up to 7 days post‐dose, using TMS and pEEG derived measures, which are markedly distinct from its acute effects and may be relevant to understand its antidepressant efficacy.