The Effects of Psychotherapy on Single and Repeated Ketamine Infusion(s) Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression: The Convergence of Molecular and Psychological Treatment.
Sofia Sakopoulos, Mcwelling Todman
International journal of molecular sciences July 11, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26146673 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractKetamine infusion therapy produces rapid antidepressant effects in people with treatment-resistant depression, and combining it with weekly psychotherapy yields the strongest symptom reduction. A retrospective chart review of patients receiving single or repeated ketamine infusions, with or without concurrent psychotherapy, measured depression severity using Beck Depression Inventory scores before treatment and 30 days after. All groups showed significant symptom improvement, but those who also attended weekly psychotherapy experienced the most pronounced effects. The number of infusions did not significantly change outcomes. The findings suggest that integrating psychotherapy with ketamine treatment enhances therapeutic response, possibly by taking advantage of ketamine-induced neural plasticity.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Retrospective chart review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) |
| Interventions | Ketamine infusion Psychotherapy |
| Duration | 30-day follow-up |
| Topics | Neuroplasticity |
| Keywords | Ketamine infusion therapy Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy kap Rapid-acting antidepressant Treatment-resistant depression trd Neuroplasticity neuroplasticity |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key finding | Combining ketamine infusion therapy with weekly psychotherapy produced the most pronounced reduction in depression severity compared to ketamine alone. |
Abstract
Ketamine infusion therapy has gained recognition as an innovative treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), demonstrating rapid and robust antidepressant effects. Its therapeutic promise is increasingly understood to involve molecular and neurobiological processes that promote neural plasticity and cognitive flexibility. These changes may create a unique window for psychotherapeutic interventions to take deeper effect. This retrospective chart review examined the clinical outcomes of individuals with TRD who received either single or repeated ketamine infusion(s), with or without weekly psychotherapy. Depression severity, measured by Beck Depression Inventory scores, was assessed pre-treatment and 30 days post-infusion(s). The results showed significant symptom reduction across all groups, with the most pronounced effects observed in those who received concurrent psychotherapy. While infusion number did not significantly alter outcomes, the integration of ketamine with psychotherapy appeared to enhance treatment response.