Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy: opportunities and challenges
Medical Research Archives 2024 DOI: 10.18103/mra.v12i7.5630 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Ketamine Psychotherapy |
| Dose | subanesthetic doses |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Key findings | Subanesthetic ketamine combined with psychotherapy produces a synergistic effect that enhances and extends antidepressant outcomes. |
Abstract
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with unique pharmacological and psychological properties. Its antidepressant effects are mediated through the glutamatergic system and subsequent neuroplasticity and can be amplified when combined with psychotherapy. The ketamine-induced dissociative state should not be seen as an unwanted side-effect, but as a unique opportunity for psychotherapeutic intervention. When psychotherapy is augmented by subanesthetic doses of ketamine, a synergistic effect is seen that increases and prolongs the effect on depressive symptoms, general well-being and quality of life. Keywords: Ketamine, NMDA antagonist, psychotherapy, psychedelic, consciousness