Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Outcomes for First Responders With Comorbid Mental Health Diagnoses

Vivian W. L. Tsang; Megan Kennedy; Tarun Walia; Emma Arksey; Shannon Dames; Pamela Kryskow

doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000003579

Ketamine-Assisted Therapy Outcomes for First Responders With Comorbid Mental Health Diagnoses

Vivian W. L. Tsang, Megan Kennedy, Tarun Walia, Emma Arksey, Shannon Dames, Pamela Kryskow

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine October 17, 2025 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000003579 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract

Characteristics	Qualitative case study Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size	6
Population	Firefighters diagnosed with PTSD
Intervention	Ketamine-assisted therapy
Duration	12-week program
Topics	Esketamine Ketamine
Keywords	Medical diagnosis Mental health Medline Comorbidity Psychiatric diagnosis
Citations	1
Key findings	Ketamine-assisted therapy may provide meaningful benefits beyond symptom reduction, including improvements in sleep, relationship to music, sensory tolerance, and time perception.

Abstract

Objective: Many first responders deal with mental health challenges due to significant work-related stress. Ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT) has been shown to alleviate the symptoms and improve the lives of those living with PTSD. This qualitative case study explores the impacts of KAT on the firefighters beyond the initial alleviation of their PTSD symptoms.

Methods: Six firefighters who were diagnosed with PTSD participated in a 12-week KAT program, which combined several virtual Community of Practice meetings as well as in-person small group ketamine sessions. Participants were interviewed about their journey to receiving treatment, and a follow-up survey was also sent.

Results: The novel themes that emerged from this study include improvement in sleep problems, relationship to music, improved tolerance for sensory stimuli, and changes in time perception.

Conclusions: KAT may provide meaningful benefits beyond symptom reduction.

Comparable studies

Other case reports and case series on ketamine, most cited first.

Study	Year	Design	Participants
The destruction of the lower urinary tract by ketamine abuse: a new syndrome? Young recreational abusers of street-ketamine in Hong Kong referred to urology units	2008	Retrospective case series	n = 59
Electroconvulsive Therapy, Ketamine, and Esketamine in a Patient with Major Depressive Disorder and Multiple Comorbidities: A Case Report over 10-year Treatment from Adolescence to Adulthood. A patient with treatment-resistant depression and comorbid generalized anxiety...	2025	Case report	n = 1
Treatment of compulsive behaviour in eating disorders with intermittent ketamine infusions Chronic and treatment-resistant eating disorder patients	1998	Case series	n = 15
Oral Administration of the NMDA Receptor Antagonist S-Ketamine as Add-On Therapy of Depression: A Case Series Four depressed patients taking standard antidepressants	2009	Case series	n = 4
A longitudinal case series of IM ketamine for patients with severe and enduring eating disorders and comorbid treatment‐resistant depression Patients with enduring eating disorders and treatment-resistant depression	2021	Case series	n = 4

Citations in the library

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