Ketamine-assisted meaning-centered psychotherapy for a patient with severe suicidal behavior

Fernando Espí Forcén; Laura Marengo; Maya Behn

doi:10.1017/s1478951522001304

Ketamine-assisted meaning-centered psychotherapy for a patient with severe suicidal behavior

Fernando Espí Forcén, Laura Marengo, Maya Behn

Palliative & Supportive Care April 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951522001304 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract

Characteristics	Case study Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size	1
Population	Patient with recurrent and severe depressive disorder with suicidal ideation
Interventions	Meaning-centered psychotherapy Ketamine
Topics	Esketamine Ketamine Psychedelic-assisted therapy
Key findings	Meaning-centered psychotherapy combined with ketamine was an effective treatment for a patient with recurrent and severe depressive disorder with suicidal ideation.

Abstract

AbstractThere is a current debate in society as to whether depression can be a terminal illness. Meaning-centered psychotherapy (MCP) and psychedelic medicines have both been shown to treat existential distress in palliative care settings. We are reporting the case of a patient for whom MCP combined with ketamine was an effective treatment for his recurrent and severe depressive disorder with suicidal ideation. His complex assessment and management of suicide (CAMS) scores improved significantly with this treatment modality. Ketamine is generally well tolerated and can enhance treatment outcomes in patients undergoing MCP.

Comparable studies

Other case reports and case series on ketamine, most cited first.

Study	Year	Design	Participants
The destruction of the lower urinary tract by ketamine abuse: a new syndrome? Young recreational abusers of street-ketamine in Hong Kong referred to urology units	2008	Retrospective case series	n = 59
Electroconvulsive Therapy, Ketamine, and Esketamine in a Patient with Major Depressive Disorder and Multiple Comorbidities: A Case Report over 10-year Treatment from Adolescence to Adulthood. A patient with treatment-resistant depression and comorbid generalized anxiety...	2025	Case report	n = 1
Treatment of compulsive behaviour in eating disorders with intermittent ketamine infusions Chronic and treatment-resistant eating disorder patients	1998	Case series	n = 15
Oral Administration of the NMDA Receptor Antagonist S-Ketamine as Add-On Therapy of Depression: A Case Series Four depressed patients taking standard antidepressants	2009	Case series	n = 4
A longitudinal case series of IM ketamine for patients with severe and enduring eating disorders and comorbid treatment‐resistant depression Patients with enduring eating disorders and treatment-resistant depression	2021	Case series	n = 4

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