Ketamine was approved by the FDA in 1970 and has been in widespread use for anesthesia for decades. It is also on the World Health Organization’s list of Essential Medicines.

In the early 2000s, the first study of Ketamine for treatment of major depression at Yale University resulted in significant improvement within 72 hours.

When administered in the correct dosage and under medical supervision, Ketamine has very few side effects. Most commonly reported side effects include nausea, dizziness, and dissociative feelings.

Ketamine treatment has emerged as a promising intervention for mood and trauma-related disorders, especially in populations who have not responded to conventional treatment.

Multiple clinical trials have shown meaningful symptom reduction in the majority of patients in as little as 2 to 24 hours, compared to 4 to 6 weeks for existing therapies.

This is due to Ketamine’s effect on neuroplasticity, or the rapid synaptic remodeling of the brain. This is caused by a rapid release of glutamates, which allows for the restoration of synaptic connections in brain regions implicated in depression and trauma.

While Ketamine alone has been shown to significantly improve symptoms, Ketamine combined with therapy has demonstrated substantial improvement in sustaining symptomatic improvement over the long term, compared with ketamine treatment only.

Ketamine allows for the restoration of synaptic connections and also creates a window in which patients are better able to process trauma, reframe maladaptive thoughts, and learn new coping strategies.

The period after a ketamine treatment session is a “window” in which new synaptic connections may be formed and reinforced through therapy, creating lasting improvement in patients.

Learn more about our local Seattle network of certified therapists experienced in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP).