At-Home Ketamine-Assisted Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Real-World Retrospective Analysis
Jack Swain, Davis Carter, Leonardo Vando
Research Square February 11, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8834318/v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective cohort study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 374 |
| Population | Adults with moderate-to-severe PTSD (baseline PCL-5 ≥33) who completed at-home, telehealth-supported ketamine-assisted therapy |
| Intervention | Ketamine-assisted therapy |
| Duration | 6 sessions (timing not specified) |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression PTSD Esketamine Ketamine |
| Keywords | Suicidal ideation Depression economics Exposure therapy Retrospective cohort study Population Mood Cognitive therapy Clinical psychology Cognitive behavioral therapy Mental health Fight-or-flight response Telehealth Physical therapy Poison control |
| Key findings | At-home ketamine-assisted therapy was associated with large reductions in PTSD symptoms, with 79.7% of patients showing clinical response and 60.7% achieving remission after six sessions. |
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common mental health condition affecting approximately 3-6% of the U.S. adult population annually, and is characterized by intrusive symptoms, avoidance, negative cognitive and mood alterations, and hyperarousal following trauma exposure. Ketamine shows promise as a treatment for PTSD in preliminary trials, though real-world outcomes data remain limited, particularly for at-home, telehealth-supported delivery models.
Objective: This study describes PTSD symptom outcomes, including suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety, among adults who received at-home ketamine-assisted therapy through Mindbloom, a telehealth ketamine therapy platform.
Methods: This retrospective analysis examined PTSD symptom change among 374 adults with moderate-to-severe PTSD (baseline PCL-5 ≥33) who completed at-home, telehealth-supported ketamine-assisted therapy between September 2024 and October 2025. Outcomes were measured from baseline to post-session 6. Secondary outcomes included depression (PHQ-9), suicidal ideation (PHQ-9 item 9), and anxiety (GAD-7). Clinical response was defined as ≥10-point PCL-5 reduction; remission was defined as post-treatment PCL-5 <33.
Results: Among the 374 patients who completed 6 sessions, the mean baseline PCL-5 score was 51.1, declining to a mean post-treatment PCL-5 of 28.3 (44.6% reduction, Cohen's d = 1.44). The clinical response rate was 79.7%, with 60.7% achieving remission (PCL-5 <33). Response rates increased progressively across treatment: 62.2% at post-session 2 (mean PCL-5 = 36.2, 29.2% improvement), 73.8% at post-session 4 (mean PCL-5 = 31.1, 39.1% improvement), and 79.7% at post-session 6 (mean PCL-5 = 28.3, 44.6% improvement). Among patients with baseline suicidal ideation (n=58, 15.5%), 83.0% reported improvement and 66.0% reported complete resolution by session 2, with 85.2% reporting improvement and 75.9% reporting resolution post-session 6. Secondary analyses showed significant improvements in depression (51.2% reduction in PHQ-9 scores, n=157) and anxiety (50.6% reduction in GAD-7 scores, n=151). Side effects were reported in 4.3% of participants.
Conclusions: This real-world outcomes analysis describes improvements in PTSD symptoms, including rapid reductions in suicidal ideation, among adults receiving at-home ketamine-assisted therapy. Prospective, controlled trials are needed to establish causal efficacy.