Toward Synergies of Ketamine and Psychotherapy
Frontiers in Psychology – March 25, 2022
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ketamine, a dissociative drug, holds substantial potential for psychiatric applications, particularly in the Treatment of Major Depression. Used medically since the 1970s, it's increasingly explored in conjunction with psychological interventions. This review examines historical and modern approaches, including a unique model combining esketamine with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Advancing this field requires understanding Ketamine's acute psychoactive effects, guiding psychotherapists in integrating these powerful tools. This contributes to broader Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Ketamine is a dissociative drug that has been used medically since the 1970s primarily as an anesthetic agent but also for various psychiatric applications. Anecdotal reports and clinical research suggest substantial potential for ketamine as a treatment in conjunction with psychological interventions. Here, we review historical and modern approaches to the use of ketamine with psychotherapy, discuss the clinical relevance of ketamine’s acute psychoactive effects, propose a unique model for using esketamine (one isomeric form of ketamine) with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and suggest considerations for moving medication-assisted psychotherapy forward as a field.