Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of an Asian American patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a case study
Albert Yeung, Huiqiong Deng, Wendy Feng, Yian Wu, David Mischoulon
Psychiatry Research Case Reports May 22, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.psycr.2026.100331 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Qualitative Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 26-year-old Asian American woman with chronic PTSD |
| Interventions | Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy intramuscular ketamine integration therapy |
| Dose | 88.2 ± 12.5 mg |
| Duration | Eight months |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine Psychedelic-assisted therapy PTSD |
| Keywords | Asian americans Depression economics Stress linguistics Medline Psychotherapist Clinical psychology |
| Key findings | Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy reduced PTSD symptoms in an Asian American woman with chronic PTSD, with cultural concordance in therapy appearing beneficial. |
Abstract
Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains a challenging condition to treat. Nonpsychedelic pharmacotherapies have modest efficacy, and trauma-focused therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) demonstrate higher response rates than medications, yet they suffer from high dropout rates (25–35%) and limited accessibility. Recent advances in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP), including ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) are being investigated as an alternative treatment. However, cultural, legal, and structural barriers hinder both the accessibility and acceptance of KAP within many Asian communities. Their deep-rooted skepticism toward mental health treatment, alongside collectivist values like filial piety and the prioritization of family harmony, can further complicate the management of PTSD. KAP could be a viable, but understudied option for treatment of PTSD in this population. Case Presentation This case study examines the use of KAP in a 26-year-old Asian American woman with chronic PTSD stemming from childhood abuse and neglect. Mary had undergone years of psychoanalytic psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy with minimal symptom relief. Over eight months, she received 11 intramuscular ketamine sessions (mean dose = 88.2 ± 12.5 mg) paired with integration therapy. Treatment progress was assessed via standardized measures (PCL-5, PHQ-9, GAD-7) and qualitative reports. The cultural aspects of how patient’s Asian heritage shaped her trauma experience (e.g., filial piety, stigma) and treatment process were discussed. Her choice of working with an Asian therapist supports the importance of cultural concordance in KAP.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on ketamine and psychedelic-assisted therapy, most cited first.