Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for trauma-exposed patients in an outpatient setting: A clinical chart review study
Alan K. Davis, Pratheek Mangini, Yitong Xin
Journal of Psychedelic Studies October 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1556/2054.2021.00179 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective clinical chart review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 18 |
| Population | Trauma-exposed patients in an outpatient clinic |
| Intervention | Sublingual ketamine-assisted body-centered psychotherapy |
| Duration | Six sessions |
| Topics | Anxiety Ketamine Esketamine Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Depression economics Population Clinical psychology Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key findings | Sublingual ketamine-assisted body-centered psychotherapy was associated with meaningful improvements in PTSD symptoms and global disability and statistically significant improvements in depression, but no improvements in anxiety. |
Abstract
Abstract Trauma exposure across the lifespan produces risks for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, as well as global disability in functioning. This retrospective clinical chart review is the first of its kind to assess the utility of sublingual ketamine-assisted body-centered psychotherapy in trauma-exposed patients in a real world clinic setting. De-identified clinical records data on self-reported symptom measures were retrospectively analyzed for patients ( N = 18; M age = 45.22, SD = 12.90) entering ketamine-assisted psychotherapy treatment in an outpatient clinic between 2018 and 2020. Patients who completed six sessions of ketamine therapy reported meaningful (e.g., medium effect size) improvements in PTSD symptoms ( P = 0.058; d = −0.48) and global disability in functioning ( P = 0.050; d = −0.52) and statistically significant and meaningful improvements in depression ( P = 0.019; d = −0.53). There were no improvements in anxiety symptoms. Sublingual ketamine-assisted psychotherapy was associated with heterogenous clinical utility among patients with trauma-exposure in an outpatient setting. This study was underpowered and unrepresentative of the population of ketamine patients in the United States. Replication of these findings is needed with larger and more diverse patient samples.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ketamine and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Ketamine and psychotherapy for the treatment of psychiatric disorders: systematic review BJPsych Open May 1, 2023
- The potential of ketamine for posttraumatic stress disorder: a review of clinical evidence. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology 2023
- A novel framework for ketamine-assisted couple therapy. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024
- Combined Effects of Nasal Ketamine and Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy in Treatment-Resistant Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Case Series. Behavioral Sciences August 16, 2024
- Ketamine-assisted psychotherapies for mental disorders: A historical overview and systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review February 2, 2026
and 3 more in the library
Cites 7
- MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine June 1, 2021
- Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine for Treatment of Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder JAMA Psychiatry April 16, 2014
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Repeated Ketamine Administration for Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry January 5, 2021
- 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
- Oral Ketamine for Depression The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry April 15, 2019
and 2 more in the library