Ketamine Treatment and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP)
Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic drug which acts on the central nervous system chiefly through antagonism of the n-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Ketamine is an experimental treatment that has shown positive effects on trauma and chronic PTSD in the research (see below for research article). It has also shown a positive impact on depression and anxiety.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is often incorporated into Ketamine Treatments to accelerate positive outcomes for clients. Likewise, using Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy (and IFS coaching), https://ifs-institute.com, has shown to be a powerful support to KAP and is commonly recommended during the preparation stage, the Ketamine treatment, and the paramount integration period. As Neuro-Inclusive IFS practitioners, we are sensitive to all neurotypes, autonomic nervous systems, and parts of you to ensure your sensory and safety needs are addressed prior to your journey so that you are able to drop in and move through whatever you call forth during your KAP journey.
We have heard anecdotal evidence from several of our Neurodifferent clients, particularly our Autistic clients, that they consistently feel calmer and more regulated which has allowed them to feel safer in their environment and able to connect easier with others.
NOTE: WE CURRENTLY DO NOT PROVIDE LOW DOSE PSYCHOLITIC THERAPY.
Research on Ketamine….
Mandal S, Sinha VK, Goyal N. Efficacy of ketamine therapy in the treatment of depression. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019 Sep-Oct;61(5):480-485. doi: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_484_18. PMID: 31579184; PMCID: PMC6767816.
Zheng W, Zhou YL, Liu WJ, Wang CY, Zhan YN, Li HQ, Chen LJ, Li MD, Ning YP. Rapid and longer-term antidepressant effects of repeated-dose intravenous ketamine for patients with unipolar and bipolar depression. J Psychiatr Res. 2018 Nov;106:61-68. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.09.013. Epub 2018 Sep 25. PMID: 30278319.
Albott CS, Lim KO, Forbes MK, et al.: Efficacy, safety, and durability of repeated ketamine infusions for comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and treatment-resistant depression. J Clin Psychiatry 2018; 79:17m11634Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar
Abbar M, Demattei C, El-Hage W, Llorca P, SamalinL, Demaricourt P et al. Ketamine for the acute treatment of severe suicidal ideation: double blind, randomised placebo controlled trial BMJ 2022; 376 :e067194 doi:10.1136/bmj-2021-067194
Ivan Ezquerra-Romano I, Lawn W, Krupitsky E, Morgan CJA. Ketamine for the treatment of addiction: Evidence and potential mechanisms. Neuropharmacology. 2018 Nov;142:72-82. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.01.017. Epub 2018 Jan 12. PMID: 29339294.