King’s scientists to give ketamine to students
They’re not horsing around
A new clinical trial will see King’s researchers give participants ketamine.
Ketamine, which is best-known as an animal tranquiliser and illegal high – but is also widely used in psychiatric research – is a powerful anaesthetic drug.
But the new research, which will take place at Denmark Hill’s Institute of Psychiatry, is testing out ket’s effectiveness as an antidepressant.
It’s currently believed that, in small doses, ketamine is a “promising” treatment for people whose depression doesn’t respond to traditional drugs.
The study will be carried out on people who have suffered in depression and are in remission, who will be given a “relatively small” amount of ketamine or a placebo intravenously.
Lucky participants will be rewarded with £150, a free lunch, and hopefully no K-hole.
The researchers have been contacted for comment.