Grayken lessons: a multidisciplinary approach to care for a patient with severe ketamine use disorder.
Maya Appley, Jessica R Gray, Dima Abdulrahim, Owen Bowden-Jones
Addiction Science & Clinical Practice February 4, 2026 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-026-00645-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | Young woman with severe ketamine use disorder and PTSD |
| Interventions | psychiatrist and psychologist |
| Topics | Addiction Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Club drugs Harm reduction Multidisciplinary care |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | A multidisciplinary care plan helped a young woman with severe ketamine use disorder and PTSD significantly reduce her ketamine use for a period of time. |
Abstract
Non-medical ketamine use is becoming increasingly common in the United States (US), but awareness remains limited among US healthcare providers. Here we present the case of a young woman who developed severe ketamine use disorder in the setting of an acute exacerbation of chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She also demonstrated symptoms concerning for two known complications of chronic ketamine use: gastrointestinal toxicity and ketamine-induced uropathy. Informed by best practices established by specialists in club drug use from the United Kingdom (UK), a multidisciplinary care plan was implemented. The plan included specialist referrals for suspected physical complications and connection with a psychiatrist and psychologist to address underlying mental health conditions driving ketamine use. With individualized, multidisciplinary support, she was able to significantly reduce ketamine use, for a period of time. US healthcare providers must be aware of non-medical ketamine use and associated harms, including ketamine use disorder, in order to provide effective counseling and treatment to increasing numbers of people using ketamine. In the UK, a multidisciplinary clinic was established to serve people struggling with ketamine and other club drug use, providing a model for effective, patient-centered care that can inform our approach to building systems of care for people who use ketamine and other club drugs in the US.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on ketamine for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine Dependence in an Anesthesiologist: An Occupational Hazard? Anesthesiologist from India | 2014 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Qualitative analysis of a patient's experience of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for substance use disorder: Empirical synergies with twelve-step programs 28-year-old female treated for alcohol and opioid use disorder | 2025 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Intravenous ketamine for severe alcohol use disorder at Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital, Kenya: a case report A 39-year-old African male with severe alcohol use disorder, comorbid tobacco use... | 2023 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Intensive ketamine use for multiple years: A case report Patient with bipolar I disorder and history of substance dependence | 2014 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Abdominal Pain and Dysuria Secondary to Chronic Recreational Ketamine Use: A Case Report on K-cramps. 25-year-old woman with chronic high-dose ketamine use | 2025 | Case report | n = 1 |