Barriers and Access to Care for Firefighters with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Seeking Ketamine Assisted Therapy: a qualitative study.
Vivian Wl Tsang, Tavneet Walia, Katherine Sattler, Pamela Kryskow
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine February 2, 2026 DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003665 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractFirefighters face higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population, with an average prevalence of 7.3% compared to 1.3–3.5%. Conventional treatments often show limited effectiveness, and ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT) has emerged as a promising option. Interviews with six firefighters enrolled in but not yet started a KAT program revealed four major themes: feeling stuck and reaching a breaking point, stigma surrounding both PTSD and ketamine treatment, the need for self-advocacy to access care, and significant financial and logistical barriers. The findings underscore the need for systemic changes to better support treatment-seeking individuals.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6 |
| Population | Firefighters enrolled in but not yet begun the Roots to Thrive ketamine-assisted therapy program |
| Keywords | Ketamine-assisted therapy Barriers to treatment Firefighter mental health Mental health stigma Psychedelic- assisted therapy |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | Four major themes emerged from interviews with six firefighters before starting ketamine-assisted therapy: feeling stuck and at a breaking point, stigma about PTSD and ketamine, need for self-advocacy to access treatment, and substantial financial and logistical barriers. |
Abstract
Firefighters are exposed to a disproportionately high number of traumatic incidents and, thus, display elevated rates of trauma-related mental health disorders, with the reported average PTSD prevalence being 7.3% in firefighters vs 1.3-3.5% in the general populationOftentimes, conventional treatments demonstrate limited efficacy. Ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT) has recently arisen with promising long-term results. The experiences of six firefighters who had enrolled in but not begun the Roots to Thrive (RTT) KAT program was investigated. Interviews were conducted pre-treatment, and a thorough thematic analysis was performed. Four major themes were identified: (1) feeling stuck and reaching a breaking point, (2) stigma surrounding PTSD and the use of ketamine for treatment, (3) the importance of self-advocacy in navigating access to treatment, and (4) substantial financial and logistical barriers. This study highlights the importance of system-wide changes necessary to support treatment-seeking individuals.