Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

JOURNAL OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS - MAY 2019

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data and Outcomes

In this study, 235 patients across three practices received ketamine sublingually (both in-office and at home), intramuscularly, or both, along with psychotherapy. The data support the efficacy of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for a wide variety of psychiatric diagnoses and human difficulties, significantly diminishing depression, anxiety, and PTSD and increasing well-being.

Ketamine for Depression

GENERAL HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRY - MARCH 2015

Ketamine as a novel treatment for major depressive disorder and bipolar depression: a systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis assess the efficacy of ketamine in comparison with placebo for the reduction of depressive symptoms in patients who meet criteria for a major depressive episode. The large and statistically significant effect of ketamine on depressive symptoms supports a promising, new and effective pharmacotherapy with rapid onset, high efficacy and good tolerability.

JAMA PSYCHIATRY - APRIL 2017

A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders

This review and consensus statement provides a general overview of the data on the use of ketamine for the treatment of mood disorders and highlights the limitations of the existing knowledge.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY - OCTOBER 2013

Antidepressant efficacy of ketamine in treatment-resistant major depression: a two-site randomized controlled trial

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the rapid antidepressant efficacy of ketamine in a large group of patients with treatment-resistant major depression. Ketamine demonstrated rapid antidepressant effects, further supporting NMDA receptor modulation as a novel mechanism for accelerated improvement in severe and chronic forms of depression.

JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS - APRIL 2014

Do the dissociative side effects of ketamine mediate its antidepressant effects?

In this analysis, data from 108 treatment-resistant inpatients meeting criteria for major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder who received a single subanesthetic ketamine infusion were analyzed. Among the examined mediators of ketamine׳s antidepressant response, only dissociative side effects predicted a more robust and sustained antidepressant.

PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH - FEBRUARY 2014

Rapid antidepressant effects of repeated doses of ketamine compared with electroconvulsive therapy in hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder.

Accumulating evidence suggests that ketamine may exert rapid antidepressant effects in major depressive disorder patients. This study showed that ketamine is as effective as ECT in improving depressive symptoms in MDD patients and has more rapid antidepressant effects compared with the ECT.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY - OCTOBER 2013

Antidepressant, mood stabilizing and procognitive effects of very low dose sublingual ketamine in refractory unipolar and bipolar depression.

In this study very low dose sublingual ketamine (10 mg) was administered every 2-3 days or weekly to 26 out-patients with refractory unipolar or bipolar depression. Patients reported clear and sustained effects, improving mood level and stability, cognition, and sleep in 77% of patients, with only mild and transient light-headedness as a common side-effect. Remission remained in some patients after stopping ketamine.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY - AUGUST 2016

A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Frequency Study of Intravenous Ketamine in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression.

This study evaluated the efficacy of twice- and thrice-weekly intravenous administration of ketamine in sustaining initial antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant depression. 67 patients with treatment-resistant depression received intravenous ketamine (or placebo) either two or three times per week for up to four weeks. At day 15, MADRS (depression rating scale) scores were measured for both groups. The twice-weekly dosing groups saw a mean change of -18.4 (vs. -5.7 for placebo) and the thrice-weekly groups saw a mean change of -17.7 (vs. -3.1 for placebo), indicating similar antidepressant effects for both dose-frequencies.

Ketamine for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY - JANUARY 2021

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Repeated Ketamine Administration for Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This study is the first randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy and safety of repeated intravenous ketamine infusions for the treatment of chronic PTSD. Sixty-seven percent of participants receiving ketamine were treatment responders, compared with 20% in the active placebo group. This trial provides the first evidence of efficacy of repeated ketamine infusions in reducing symptom severity in individuals with chronic PTSD.

Ketamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY - NOVEMBER 2013

Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial of Ketamine in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Proof-of-Concept

This is the first randomized, controlled trial to demonstrate that ketamine can reduce OCD symptoms without the presence of a serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication. Rapid anti-OCD effects from a single intravenous dose of ketamine were shown to persist for at least 1 week in some OCD patients with constant intrusive thoughts.

Ketamine for Anxiety

NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY - JANUARY 2018

Ketamine for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial in 18 adults with social anxiety disorder provides initial evidence that ketamine may be effective in reducing anxiety.

JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY - MARCH 2018

Safety and efficacy of maintenance ketamine treatment in patients with treatment-refractory generalised anxiety and social anxiety disorders

This study evaluates the effect of weekly ketamine treatments for three months on anxiety ratings, safety and tolerability in patients with treatment-refractory generalised anxiety disorder and/or social anxiety disorder, and subsequent assessment of remission post-treatment. Patients received one or two weekly ketamine doses of 1 mg/kg injected subcutaneously for 3 months. Patients reported marked improvements in functionality and in their personal lives, which suggests that maintenance ketamine may be a therapeutic alternative for patients with treatment refractory anxiety disorders.