Ketamine Infusion for Symptomatic Improvement in Severe Borderline Personality Disorder: A Pilot Study (BorderKET)
Open-label, single-group Phase II pilot (n=38) testing two IV ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg each, 40 min, at H0 and H24) plus Good Psychiatric Management in adults with severe BPD; primary outcome at day 9 (BSL-23).
Detailed Description
This pilot evaluates change in BPD symptom severity (BSL-23) at day 9 after two intravenous ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes at H0 and H24) delivered alongside Good Psychiatric Management.
Participants are monitored for suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, healthcare use, and adverse events with follow-up visits through three months; vital signs and AEs are assessed around each infusion.
Study Protocol
Preparation
Dosing
Integration
Therapeutic Protocol
Study Arms & Interventions
IV ketamine
experimentalTwo intravenous ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg each) at H0 and H24, 40-minute infusion; delivered with standard-of-care Good Psychiatric Management.
Interventions
- Ketamine0.5 mg/kgvia IV• two infusions, 24 hours apart• 2 doses total
Each infusion over 40 minutes; vitals and AEs monitored.
Participants
Inclusion Criteria
- Inclusion Criteria:
- Adult patient aged 18 to 65 years
- Fluent in French
- Person affiliated with or receiving social security benefits
- Diagnosis of borderline personality disorder established according to the DSM-5 MINI criteria (5 out of 9 criteria)
- Severe borderline personality disorder
- Patient receiving stable pharmacological (antipsychotic, mood stabilizer, antidepressant) and/or non-pharmacological (schema therapy, DBT) treatment for four weeks
Exclusion Criteria
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Personal history of an acute psychotic episode or chronic psychotic disorder
- Personal history of a manic or hypomanic episode
- Family history (first-degree relatives) of a psychotic disorder
- Current severe depressive episode
- Recreational ketamine use (multi-weekly ketamine use)
- New long-term treatment introduced within the previous four weeks (antidepressant, antipsychotic, mood stabilizer)
- Prescription of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
- Specific absolute contraindication to ketamine
- History of cirrhosis or major liver function test abnormalities
- Major ECG abnormality
Study Details
- StatusNot yet recruiting
- PhasePhase II
- Typeinterventional
- DesignNon-randomized
- Target Enrollment38 participants
- TimelineStart: 2025-11-01End: 2027-12-31
- Compound
- Topic