BENEFITS OF KETAMINE ASSISTED THERAPY
Dr. Debi Gilmore LMFT
You may have heard about ketamine, and wondered if it would be a benefit to you or someone you love who struggles with their mental health and well-being. Ketamine therapy is emerging as a promising treatment for mental illness. Ketamine works on NMDA receptors in the brain to increase glutamatergic action. In addition to providing rapid and robust antidepressant effects, ketamine also creates a period of increased neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt to new situations and learn new skills. Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety are often exacerbated by underlying maladaptive thought patterns and actions. The ability to create healthier patterns, perceptions and behaviors is an important step towards symptom improvement.
To this end, therapy plays a crucial role in enhancing and extending ketamine’s therapeutic benefits. Therapy helps patients process the emotional and psychological insights that may arise during ketamine treatment and helps patients make meaningful, lasting changes in thought patterns and behaviors. The combination of ketamine and therapy, when done correctly, greatly facilitates healing and growth.
Ketamine treatment, especially in a clinical or therapeutic setting, has shown promising benefits for several mental health and pain-related conditions. Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly reported benefits:
Mental Health Benefits
Ketamine therapy offers scientific evidence of rapid relief from depression. Studies have shown it is especially effective for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Some people experience relief within hours, unlike traditional antidepressants which can take weeks.
Patients with suicidal ideation have experienced a reduction in suicidal thoughts. Ketamine has often been used in crisis situations because of its fast-acting properties. A course of treatment using ketamine can provide a “mental reset” that helps people step away from hopelessness.
Patients with a diagnosis of any anxiety disorder have experienced improvement in symptoms of anxiety. Ketamine seems to be extremely effective in those suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and the devastating impact of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Potential Help with OCD
Recent studies focused on patients with OCD are revealing the benefits of ketamine to assist in alleviating the debilitating symptoms of this disorder. Emerging research suggests ketamine may reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior temporarily. Ketamine, combined with psychotherapy and exposure therapy seems to reinforce the more long-term reduction of symptoms.
Cognitive and Emotional Benefits
Ketamine treatment has also offered cognitive and emotional benefits including increased emotional flexibility. A course of treatment can help break rigid thought patterns. People often report increased ability to reflect, feel empathy, and gain perspective.
Ketamine assisted therapy has been shown to enhance therapy outcomes. Used alongside psychotherapy, ketamine may deepen insight and emotional processing. Patients have experienced dramatic reduction of rumination by quieting the overactive “default mode network” in the brain, linked to negative self-talk and looping thoughts.
Neurological & Physical Benefits
One of the remarkable aspects of a human brain is its neuroplasticity. Ketamine treatment encourages the growth of new synaptic connections in the brain. This could help “rewire” the brain out of depression/anxiety pathways.
Pain management has always been a very important part of healing following surgery or an injury. Ketamine has been shown to be effective when treating chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, CRPS, and migraines. It provides relief where opioids or other treatments may fail, or contribute to the danger of addiction.
Things to Keep in Mind
Ketamine treatment is not considered a cure . It works best as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. As with any drug, ketamine treatment can be accompanied by possible side effects including dissociation, nausea, increased blood pressure, or short-term confusion. It requires a prescription from a licensed provider, as well as careful medical and mental health supervision.
The long-term effects of ketamine treatment are still being studied, and new benefits are being revealed at an increasing rate.
If you are interested in exploring how ketamine can help you or your loved one in the journey of mental health and well-being, please call 385-777-6357 today to schedule an appointment with Jena Thomas, NP.
