Exploring effects and experiences of ketamine in group couples therapy
Mark Cornfield, S. Mcbride, Joseph T. la Torre, Daniel Zalewa, Jade Gallo, Mehdi Mahammadli, Monnica T. Williams
Journal of Psychedelic Studies May 6, 2024 DOI: 10.1556/2054.2024.00302 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed methods study Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Couples participating in group couples therapy based on Imago Relationship Therapy |
| Interventions | Ketamine-assisted therapy Imago Relationship Therapy |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key points | Ketamine-assisted therapy in couples therapy produced a wide range of therapeutic effects and was associated with improved relationship satisfaction. |
Abstract
This study contributes to the understanding of the efficacy, safety, and experience of ketamine-assisted therapy. The paper documents how individuals describe the effects of a protocolized and personalized use of ketamine (‘the relational dose’) in the context of group couples therapy based on Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT). Little is known about simultaneously administering ketamine to both members of a couple in this context, and no research to date has been published on whether ketamine facilitates couples to better engage in and benefit from the therapeutic process. The paper includes both qualitative and quantitative results.The study utilized a mixed methods approach. One approach was an inductive content analysis that produced overarching themes gleaned from participants' check-ins pre and post their weekly ketamine sessions. Transcripts were examined to better understand ketamine's effects on couples' ability to engage in therapeutic dialogue and resolve challenging relationship issues, as well as themes related to the non-ordinary-state-of-consciousness (NOSC) experience. The second approach involved the analysis of pre-test, post-test, and follow-up data from the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI).The couples described a wide range of effects that ketamine produced in the context of their relational dialoguing including: empathogenic effects, mystical/spiritual/psychedelic experiences, anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. They also affirmed ketamine's ability to generate alternative perspectives, promote insight, heighten awareness, enhance vulnerability and communication, lower defenses, and produce novel somatic experiences. Participants' description of ketamine effects included its short duration, rapid onset, idiosyncratic sensitivity to dose, cumulative effects, as well as transient and mild side-effects. Several t-tests were statistically significant, and indicated improved relationship satisfaction following the treatment.In the context of couples therapy, ketamine produced a wide range of therapeutic effects and possessed unique pharmacological properties as a rapid-acting novel psychoactive molecule. The drug may have profound therapeutic benefits when administered in the context of couples therapy, under clinical supervision, however more research should be carried out.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on ketamine, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Psychedelics beyond medicine: Treatment, enhancement, hype, consent, and the limits of medicalization Philosophical Psychology September 8, 2025
- Mystical Experiences as Catalysts in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Case Study Journal of Psychoactive Drugs July 3, 2026
- Approaches to ketamine-assisted couple therapy Frontiers in Psychology June 4, 2026
- Treating job-related stress with psychedelic group therapy: a case series on group ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for healthcare workers and first responders Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology October 1, 2025
- Associations of Couples' Psychedelic Use with Shared Reality and Relational Well-Being. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs January 6, 2026
Cites 24
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- The effect of a single dose of intravenous ketamine on suicidal ideation: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis American Journal of Psychiatry October 3, 2017
- Ketamine and Rapid-Acting Antidepressants: A Window into a New Neurobiology for Mood Disorder Therapeutics Annual Review of Medicine October 23, 2014
- The Role of Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Systematic Review Current Neuropharmacology November 12, 2014
- Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data and Outcomes in Three Large Practices Administering Ketamine with Psychotherapy Journal of Psychoactive Drugs March 15, 2019
and 19 more in the library