Psychotic-Like Experiences in Young Recreational Users of Ketamine: A Case Study.
Valerio Ricci, Domenico de Berardis, Sheikh Shoib, Giovanni Martinotti, Giuseppe Maina
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs January 8, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2025.2449909 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Young adults aged 18-24 who use ketamine recreationally multiple times a week |
| Topics | Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Novel psychoactive drugs Psychotic-like symptoms Schizophrenia Ketamine abuse Psychotic disorders Recreational drug effects Substance-induced psychosis |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Higher frequency of recreational ketamine use is significantly positively correlated with psychotic-like experiences in young adults. |
Abstract
This study explores the psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) associated with recreational ketamine use among young adults. Ketamine, initially introduced as an anesthetic, is now widely used recreationally for its dissociative effects, raising concerns about its impact on mental health. Ten participants aged 18-24, who used ketamine recreationally multiple times a week, were assessed using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-42). Results showed a significant positive correlation between the frequency of ketamine use and PLEs, with no significant impact from other substances like THC, MDMA, and alcohol. These findings confirm ketamine's potential to induce psychotic-like symptoms by antagonizing NMDA receptors, similar to schizophrenia. The study underscores the need for preventive measures and targeted interventions to address the mental health risks of frequent ketamine use, particularly among young adults. However, limitations such as the small sample size and reliance on self-reported data suggest that further research is needed to establish causality and examine long-term effects. Overall, this study highlights the significant association between recreational ketamine use and increased PLEs, emphasizing the importance of early detection and intervention strategies.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taming the Ketamine Tiger Volunteers from a prison population | 2010 | Observational study | n = 20 |
| Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Humans | 2017 | Observational study | |
| Disruption of Frontal–Parietal Communication by Ketamine, Propofol, and Sevoflurane Surgical patients undergoing induction of anesthesia with intravenous ketamine | 2013 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |
| Do the dissociative side effects of ketamine mediate its antidepressant effects? Treatment-resistant inpatients with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder | 2014 | Observational cohort | n = 108 |
| Concomitant BDNF and sleep slow wave changes indicate ketamine-induced plasticity in major depressive disorder Patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Phenomenology of Hallucinations in Endogenous and Substance-Related Exogenous Psychoses. Psychopathology 2026
- Real-World Therapeutic Use of Ketamine in Clinical and Non-Clinical Settings: A Cross-Sectional Survey Journal of Psychoactive Drugs September 23, 2026
- Sustained abstinence in severe ketamine use disorder following ibogaine treatment case report Frontiers in Psychiatry July 20, 2026
- Cannabis use and psychotic-like experiences: A systematic review of biological vulnerability, potency effects, and clinical trajectories. Psychiatry Research April 1, 2025
Cites 23
- A Randomized Trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression Archives of General Psychiatry August 1, 2006
- The dissociative anaesthetics, ketamine and phencyclidine, selectively reduce excitation of central mammalian neurones by N‐methyl‐aspartate British Journal of Pharmacology June 1, 1983
- Efficacy and Safety of Intranasal Esketamine Adjunctive to Oral Antidepressant Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression JAMA Psychiatry December 27, 2017
- Taming the Ketamine Tiger Anesthesiology August 6, 2010
- Ketamine: NMDA Receptors and Beyond Journal of Neuroscience November 2, 2016
and 18 more in the library