Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy

Individuals taking ketamine either during therapy or at home may experience positive changes in cognition, mood, and personality during treatment and in the days and weeks that follow. The medication allows people to access and benefit from it. The psychotherapy support they get will help make their experiences understandable and valuable to them. 

Ketamine, when taken in a psychotherapy session, can be beneficial. The medication can stabilize patients with severe depression swiftly. Scientists from the University of Texas (UT) have identified the key protein that helps activate the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine in the brain. Their study, published in the journal Nature, revealed that ketamine inhibits a protein responsible for an array of normal brain functions. The medication blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, an ion channel protein and glutamate receptor found in nerve cells. Inhibiting NMDA produces an initial antidepressant reaction. A metabolite found in ketamine is responsible for prolonging the effect’s duration.

Stabilization is not the only effect of ketamine depression therapy. The blocking of the NMDA receptor also induces the hallucinogenic responses of ketamine. When taken with proper care, however, the drug may help severely suicidal or depressed patients get effective and fast treatment.

People undergoing ketamine therapy can take the drug in various ways. A medical professional can inject the medication into their muscle or have the patient ingest it. We provide ketamine to patients in the form of a low-dose, sublingual lozenge and nasal spray.

With ketamine psychotherapy, we make sure that the patient reaps the benefits of the medication. We evaluate the individual’s responsiveness. This allows us to adjust the dose and come up with a decision regarding the effectiveness of the medication. Together psychotherapy and the accompanying Ketamine, leads to successful results.

Before you undergo ketamine therapy we first interview you carefully to find out if you’re eligible to receive this medication. We have you go through the following procedures:

• Assessment of Your Medical and Psychiatric History
• Assessment of Your Medical and Psychiatric History
• Review of Your Psychiatric and Medical Records• Physical Examination (If Needed)
• Short Psychological Tests to Evaluate Your Current State of Mind

Apart from these procedures, we look for specific criteria that would make you ineligible for ketamine depression therapy. You may not undergo the treatment if you belong in one (or more) of these categories:

• Nursing Mothers and Pregnant Women – Ketamine may have potentially unwanted effects on the nursing child or the fetus. Data from the study published in Nature suggests that prenatal exposure to ketamine impairs the neuronal development of the prefrontal cortex.
• Untreated Cardiovascular Problem–Hypertension, especially if it’s untreated, is a contraindication to the use of ketamine. The drug causes a rise in blood pressure. Individuals with a history of heart problem, therefore, may not be eligible to take this treatment.
• Untreated Hyperthyroidism – People with this condition should not take ketamine. The drug increases the risk of tachycardia and hypertension.

We want to remind you that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t established the use of ketamine as “off-label” and has not certified the appropriateness of the ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Your awareness of this information is vital to understanding any liability related to your use of the medication. Your signed, informed consent signifies your knowledge of this situation.

Your decision to go through ketamine therapy, therefore, is 100 percent voluntary. We encourage you to ask us questions before saying yes to the treatment.

If you are eligible and will be undergoing our ketamine therapy, you can be at ease knowing that we’ll keep your records confidential. A signed release form is required if you want to allow others, such as medical professionals, to access your files. 

** Ketamine administration is a medical treatment and there is strict adherence to safety protocols.  This treatment is only offered after a very thorough and detailed clinical evaluation.