Acute Subjective Experiences of Intravenous Ketamine Therapy Among Medically Hospitalized Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder.
Dale Terasaki
Psychedelic Medicine June 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1089/psymed.2023.0066 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Secondary analysis of clinical trial data with directed content analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 12 |
| Population | Inpatients with alcohol use disorder receiving intravenous ketamine therapy |
| Intervention | Intravenous ketamine therapy |
| Topics | Addiction Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Hospital-based treatment Hospitalization Ketamine therapy Alcohol addiction treatment Psychedelic medicine Mental health interventions |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Intravenous ketamine therapy was well tolerated and highly acceptable among inpatients with alcohol use disorder, and the hospital setting did not appear to be a barrier to facilitating positive, meaningful acute experiences. |
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is widespread and problematic in the United States, and current pharmacotherapy options have relatively modest effects. Therefore, novel interventions such as ketamine therapy have gained interest as potentially efficacious options, known to generate unique psychotherapeutic experiences. The present secondary analysis examines the acute subjective experiences-both quantitatively and qualitatively-of clinical trial participants with AUD who received intravenous (IV) ketamine therapy in the hospital setting. Among a subset of inpatient clinical trial participants with AUD who received IV ketamine therapy (n = 12), acceptability and tolerability were assessed. Next, a brief directed content analysis was performed, utilizing textual data transcribed immediately after ketamine infusion. Six preselected themes from the literature were chosen to apply to our text. Among this sample, IV ketamine therapy appeared well tolerated and highly acceptable (mean 9.5 on 0-10 Likert scale). The mean Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) score was 21.7 (out of max 92). It seemed to occasion experiences that were largely positive, transporting, visual, and meaningful. The most frequently assigned themes in our data set were "Meaningful, spiritual, and mystical experiences," "Positive affect," and "Inherent contradictions of the acute experience." Prior themes derived from two theory-generating publications applied widely to our participants' reported experiences. The hospital setting itself did not appear to be a barrier in facilitating these experiences.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on ketamine for addiction, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- The psychoactive effects of repeated ketamine infusions and their mechanistic role in the treatment of alcohol use disorder: Secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial Addiction February 16, 2026
- Psychedelics, rebirth experiences, and the limits of current research Psychedelics July 1, 2026
Cites 16
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- Do the dissociative side effects of ketamine mediate its antidepressant effects? Journal of Affective Disorders February 18, 2014
- A Single Ketamine Infusion Combined With Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Midazolam-Controlled Pilot Trial. American Journal of Psychiatry December 2, 2019
and 11 more in the library