Rapid and sustained reduction of treatment-resistant PTSD symptoms after intravenous ketamine in a real-world, psychedelic paradigm.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) January 1, 2025 Henry A MacConnel, Mitch Earleywine, Steven Radowitz 5 citations
Intravenous ketamine administered in a supportive environment with preparation, intention-setting, integration sessions, eye shades, and evocative music—paralleling psychedelic therapy—was associated with large reductions in PTSD symptoms. In a retrospective sample of 117 outpatients, mean PCL-5 scores dropped from 52.54 to 28.78, with 75% showing clinically meaningful improvement and 62% suggesting remission. No serious adverse events occurred, and concomitant psychotherapy was a significant moderator. The findings suggest that environmental factors may account for variation in previous ketamine studies and that this approach may be a promising option for PTSD unresponsive to other treatments.