Ketamine Psychedelic Psychotherapy: Focus on its Pharmacology, Phenomenology, and Clinical Applications
Eli Kolp, Harris L. Friedman, Evgeny Krupitsky, Karl Jansen, Mark Sylvester, M. Scott Young, Anna Kolp
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies July 1, 2014 DOI: 10.24972/ijts.2014.33.2.84 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Ketamine psychedelic psychotherapy |
| Topics | Anxiety Ketamine Esketamine Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Dissociative Psychotherapist Transpersonal Phenomenology philosophy Anxiolytic Analgesic Pharmacology Epistemology |
| Citations | 53 |
| Key findings | Ketamine psychedelic psychotherapy has multiple psychological and pharmacological properties that include analgesic, sedative, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and hallucinogenic effects, with potential for transpersonal healing and iatrogenic consequences from misuse. |
Abstract
Meant to be an authoritative guide for psychiatrists and others interested in understanding and applying ketamine psychedelic psychotherapy (KPP), this paper focuses on its pharmacology, phenomenology, and clinical applications. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic widely used by physicians and veterinarians in the United States. In addition to its anesthetic and dissociative properties, ketamine also has a multitude of other psychological and pharmacological properties, which include analgesic, sedative, neuroprotective, anxiolytic, antidepressant, stimulant, euphoriant, and hallucinogenic effects. The literature on the clinical application of KPP is comprehensively reviewed, practical advice for using KPP is given, and the pharmacology and phenomenology of ketamine-induced psychedelic experiences are explored, including in relationship to transpersonal healing and possible iatrogenic consequences of misuse of KPP.