A 51-year-old woman with daily functional seizures, major depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder who had not responded to prior treatments underwent a novel protocol of ketamine-assisted therapy. After 3 weeks of therapy followed by 20 weeks of intermittent ketamine treatment and ongoing psychotherapy, her seizures were significantly reduced in frequency and severity, and she showed substantial improvements in depressive symptoms and functional ability. This first reported case suggests that ketamine-assisted therapy may help treat functional seizures, but rigorous studies are needed to confirm the findings.
This review examines how psychedelic-assisted therapy might help treat functional seizures, a type of functional neurological disorder. The authors explore potential underlying mechanisms, focusing on how psychedelics could affect brain networks involved in emotion, self-awareness, and body perception that are disrupted in functional seizures. They suggest that psychedelics may help by promoting neuroplasticity and altering connectivity in key brain regions, potentially allowing patients to process traumatic memories and reduce seizure frequency. The review indicates that while preliminary evidence is promising, more research is needed to establish safety and efficacy.