Automated self-acceptance training plus ketamine to extend antidepressant benefits
Official title: A brief automated neurocognitive training to enhance the real-world impact of ketamine's rapid antidepressant effect
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-11592105 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests whether adding a quick computerized self-positivity training after ketamine can prolong relief from depression for people seeking ketamine treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | July 9, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $962,074 |
| NIH project number | 7R01MH136178-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11592105 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with depression who are seeking ketamine treatment and willing to participate in a multi-site trial.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not respond to ketamine or cannot complete digital training may not experience benefit.
What this research studies
This trial builds on prior findings that ketamine can rapidly improve mood but the benefit fades quickly. It adds Automated Self Association Training (ASAT) right after ketamine infusions to help cement positive self-representations while brain plasticity is high. The study will be conducted across multiple sites with adults seeking ketamine treatment for depression, comparing ketamine plus ASAT to standard approaches. If successful, the approach could make ketamine’s benefits last longer without needing more frequent infusions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could extend the duration of ketamine’s antidepressant effects for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous smaller studies showed promising extended effects when combining ketamine with cognitive training; this trial tests a larger, real-world implementation.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mathew, Sanjay J — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Mathew, Sanjay J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Ketamine to boost fear extinction and memory on PTSD patients
A study testing whether ketamine can help people with PTSD better relearn and forget fear when given in a guided treatment plan.
-
Ultrasound-triggered ketamine delivery to a brain region to treat chronic pain
A Stanford team is testing a new way to give ketamine exactly where it’s needed in the brain to relieve chronic pain without opioids.
-
Ketamine-assisted care plan to help Veterans with chronic back pain and depression
A program for Veterans with chronic low back pain and depression that uses ketamine infusions followed by a brief narrative therapy to sustain relief from pain and mood improvement.
-
Ketamine to reduce postpartum depression and pain after cesarean delivery
This grant explores a ketamine approach to help new mothers after cesarean delivery feel better sooner and with less pain.
-
IV ketamine vs morphine for acute pain in children
A new comparison in kids with acute pain will test whether a low-dose IV ketamine works as well as IV morphine for pain relief and safety in the emergency department.
-
Ketamine’s Fast OCD Effects and the Mu-Opioid System
A study at Stanford is exploring how ketamine quickly helps some adults with OCD and what role the mu-opioid system plays.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.