Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy: opportunities and challenges

Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, produces antidepressant effects through the glutamatergic system and neuroplasticity, which can be enhanced when combined with psychotherapy. The dissociative state induced by ketamine should be viewed not as a side effect but as an opportunity for psychotherapeutic intervention. Augmenting psychotherapy with subanesthetic doses of ketamine yields a synergistic effect that increases and prolongs improvements in depressive symptoms, general well-being, and quality of life.

Study at a glance

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