An interventional study of K-ACT Intervention in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), sponsored by University of British Columbia. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-30.
Sponsored by University of British Columbia · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Ketamine is often used to treat depression where standard treatments have failed. Yet, even with ketamine, depression can persist and make it difficult to keep up with life. This study examines whether it is practical, safe and helpful to use a talk therapy (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ACT) in patients with difficult-to-treat depression receiving ketamine through the Ketamine Intervention Program at UBC Hospital. Researchers expect that combining ACT plus Ketamine ("K-ACT") will be feasible, safe, and will help patients functioning better in their daily lives, feeling that they are recovering, and having fewer symptoms of depression.
3,041 studies on the registry are indexed under Depressive Disorder, Major; 588 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 50 is below the median of 79 across 2,530 interventional studies indexed under Depressive Disorder, Major.
Browse Depressive Disorder, Major studies →University of British Columbia is the lead sponsor of 1,339 studies on the registry; 259 are open to participants now.
Of its 6 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 1 (17%) have results posted.
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To participate in this study, individuals must be eligible for and enrolled in the Ketamine Intervention Program (KIP) at UBC Hospital, an ongoing clinical program for difficult-to-treat depression, which has the following inclusion criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Individuals will not be eligible for the K-ACT study if they are deemed ineligible for enrollment with the KIP at UBC Hospital due to meeting any of the following existing exclusion criteria:
Exclusion criteria specific to the K-ACT study include:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Behavioral: K-ACT Intervention
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based psychological intervention that aims to help people develop acceptance of their experiences, awareness of the present moment, distance ("defusion") from one's thoughts/emotions, clarification of one's values, commitment to actions consistent with those values, and flexible experience of self. Through these processes, participants can develop better psychological flexibility, which in turn can support depression recovery. In this study, ACT is provided in parallel to a ongoing clinical ketamine treatment program for depression, within a Ketamine-Combined with Psychotherapy (KCP) framework.
Feasibility outcomes
Rate of recruitment/total participants enrolled, treatment attendance (sessions attended), retention, and follow-up completion
Time frame: 18 months/end of study
Safety outcomes
Participant safety will be monitored through routine clinical assessments, including ongoing evaluation of suicidality and adverse events.
Time frame: 18 months/end of study
Change in Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS)
The Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) is a measure of functioning. It is a short 5-items self-reported scale. Each item is scored 0 to 8. The higher the score, the greater the functional impairment.
Time frame: Changes from baseline to 3-month follow-up (3 months post completion of acute/index ketamine treatments)
Change in Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR-15)
The Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR-15) is a self-reported scale on personal recovery. There are 15 items rated on a scale from 0 to 4 (0= disagree strongly, 1=disagree, 2=neither agree nor disagree, 3=agree, 4=agree strongly). Higher scores indicate greater recovery.
Time frame: Changes from baseline to 3-month follow-up (3 months post completion of acute/index ketamine treatments).
Change in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)
The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale is a 10-item, clinician-rated scale to rate the severity of depression. Items are scored from 0 to 6. The total possible score is 60. Higher scores indicate greater depression severity.
Time frame: Changes from baseline to 3-month follow-up (3 months post completion of acute/index ketamine treatments)
Change in Acceptance and Commitment Questionnaire (AAQ-II)
The Acceptance and Commitment Questionnaire (AAQ-II) is a measure of psychological flexibility. It is a self-reported scale with 7 items, each scored on a 7-points scale. Higher values indicate less flexibility, while lower scores more flexibility.
Time frame: Changes from baseline to 3-month follow-up (3 months post completion of acute/index ketamine treatments)
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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