What is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Ketamine is an anesthetic drug that has been used for over fifty years in medical settings. Recently, it has gained attention as a potential treatment for mental health issues. In this article we will describe ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), its effects, benefits, and risks.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a type of therapy that involves the use of low doses of ketamine to enhance the therapeutic session. It combines the therapeutic properties of ketamine with traditional psychotherapy. KAP is administered by a trained medical professional who is authorized to administer ketamine.
Ketamine is most effective when used in combination with other treatments, such as therapy and medication. KAP should always be administered by trained professionals in a medical setting and should only be used under close medical supervision.
During a session of KAP, the patient is given ketamine, typically through an intravenous infusion. The effects of ketamine on the brain helps the patient reach deeper levels of emotional processing and insight. It makes the brain more receptive to therapeutic strategies and treatment.
KAP sessions can last a couple of hours. You may experience a range of effects from the ketamine, which your therapist will guide you through. KAP may enable you to delve into and process emotions and experiences that may be otherwise hard to tap into.
What Mental Health Conditions Is Ketamine Used to Treat?
KAP is used to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and OCD. It may also help in the treatment of bipolar depression, eating disorders, and suicidality.
Ketamine not a cure. It works best when combined with other therapeutic treatments. In addition, you will need to do the inner work and the outer work on certain areas of your life in order to support your recovery. This means that you will need to make the necessary adjustments to your lifestyle, nutritional habits, sleeping habits, relationships, and other areas that have unhealthy patterns.
Who can administer ketamine?
Only licensed medical professionals are authorized to administer ketamine for mental health treatment. Therapists work alongside medical professionals to provide ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
Ketamine Treatment for Depression
Depression is a common mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Traditional antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can take weeks to have an effect as they need to build up in your system first. Ketamine has been studied as a potential treatment for major depressive disorder, particularly in people who have not responded to traditional medicines for depression. Ketamine can have fast antidepressant effects, often within hours of administration.
In addition to its quicker antidepressant effects, ketamine can also reduce and provide relief from suicidal ideation. Again, ketamine should be used under professional supervision, and in conjunction with therapy.
Ketamine Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
KAP is increasingly being used as a treatment option for anxiety disorders, and research suggests that it can be effective for reducing anxiety symptoms.
KAP may also help individuals with anxiety by providing a sense of relaxation and calmness during the psychotherapy session. This can make it easier for individuals to engage with the therapy and work through difficult emotions and experiences.
Additionally, ketamine can induce a state of altered consciousness. Therefore, KAP can help with anxiety by enabling people to form a new perspective on their thoughts and feelings. This allows people to see their experiences in a different light. They may also gain insights that they may not have been able to access before. An enhanced ability to process experiences, thoughts, and feelings can help reduce anxiety.
Ketamine Treatment for Trauma
Trauma is a psychological condition that occurs after a person experiences or witnesses a highly distressing event. The event can range from physical or sexual assault, various forms of abuse, to a life-threatening illness, death of a loved one, natural disaster, or war. Trauma symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, depression, PTSD, or suicidal thoughts.
Ketamine can provide relief from trauma-related symptoms such as depression, anxiety and PTSD. It has also been shown to alleviate suicidality in patients. Ketamine treatment helps alleviate the following symptoms of PTSD – flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and avoidance. It can calm down sensory overload and emotional dysregulation. Ketamine treatment also provides relief from other PTSD-related symptoms like fear, distress, anxiety, and panic attacks. These factors combined can result in improved mood and behavioral patterns.
Risks and Side Effects
Like all medications, ketamine treatment for mental health problems does have risks and side effects. It is important to discuss these and any questions you have with your healthcare provider. The risks and side effects are manageable when administered in a medical setting by trained professionals. Ketamine is not a treatment that should be undertaken in isolation. It should be used in combination with therapy.
According to Harvard Medical School, some of the potential risks and side effects of ketamine treatment through infusion include:
High blood pressure
Dissociation – a sense of being out-of-body
Nausea and/or vomiting
Disturbances in perception – time slowing down or speeding up, blurred vision, experiencing textures, colors, and sounds differently
After a session of KAP you may feel disorientated, dizzy, tired, and groggy. It can also cause temporary issues with coordination.
Ketamine has the potential to be abused when used outside of a medical setting. There is a misconception that Ketamine is solely a “party drug”. When used recreationally, the dosage is much higher than when it is given in a monitored environment by a trained professional. Recreational usage of ketamine is illegal and carries serious risks. People with a history of substance abuse or addiction may be at higher risk of developing problems with ketamine use.
Getting Support with Trust Mental Health
If you require support in coping with a mental health condition, or if your child or teenager needs it, reach out to us. Trust Mental Health has a team of BIPOC therapists that speak over ten languages between them. The services we offer include trauma therapy, depression therapy, anxiety therapy, therapy for children, therapy for teens. You can view our full range of services here.
FAQs
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The teen years can be a challenging time for both children and their parents. Teenagers are navigating puberty, body issues, and their own identities. They also may face peer pressure, academic pressure, and pressures at home. These days, social media is a constant presence and influence in the day to day, hour to hour lives of adolescents. A combination of these factors can cause anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and other issues that teenagers struggle with.
Therapy gives teenagers a safe space to talk about what they are struggling with. Their therapist will listen to them without judgment, and provide a chance for them to explore how they are feeling and why. A therapist can also teach parents skills to listen to their child better and improve communication. Through the sessions, parents can also repair their relationship with their teenager.
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In eating disorder recovery, your therapist works in collaboration with your nutritionist and medical doctor to ensure healing in all areas. A therapist will treat the underlying psychological factors, a doctor will treat the medical effects of the eating disorder, and the nutritionist will create a meal plan and foster a healthy approach to food and eating. Your therapist will help you identify and work through the root causes of your eating disorder.
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There are a variety of signs and symptoms that indicate OCD. These include but are not necessarily limited to:
Overwhelming, intrusive thoughts
Compulsive, repetitive behaviors
Anxiety
Change in eating habits
Struggle to manage daily life and tasks
Constant self-doubt, need for reassurance
Sleep disturbances
Irritability, moodiness