Qualitative analysis of a patient's experience of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for substance use disorder: Empirical synergies with twelve-step programs
Psychiatry Research Case Reports March 24, 2025 Dan Petrovitch, Jacob Spinks, H.J. Yoo et al. 3 citations
A 28-year-old woman treated for alcohol and opioid use disorder underwent a collaborative treatment plan combining ketamine-assisted psychotherapy with psychosocial and 12-step-based treatments. Qualitative analysis of her lived experience indicated that ketamine played an important role in her self-reported recovery, as she attributed psychological and spiritual changes to the treatments. Her ketamine-induced experiences overlapped with the 12 steps, particularly in recognizing the seriousness of her substance use disorder, committing to change, developing spirituality, and repairing interpersonal relationships. These points of overlap could be useful for clinicians treating 12-step-involved patients with ketamine.