Adjunctive Ketamine With Relapse Prevention-Based Psychological Therapy in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
March 25, 2022 DOI: 10.64239/pi-qt3704
Summary
Ketamine combined with mindfulness psychotherapy was more effective for maintaining abstinence from alcohol compared to placebo plus alcohol psychoeducation. In this small pilot trial, other combinations of therapies did not show significant differences. The study involved 20-25 participants in each group, and minimal adverse effects were noted, indicating that current alcohol use does not rule out the use of ketamine.
Study at a glance
| Design | pilot trial |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 25 |
| Population | individuals seeking treatment for alcohol use |
| Key finding | Ketamine plus mindfulness psychotherapy was more effective for sustained abstinence from alcohol than placebo plus alcohol psychoeducation. |
Abstract
Ketamine plus mindfulness psychotherapy was more effective for sustained abstinence from alcohol than placebo plus alcohol psychoeducation. Other combinations of these therapies were not significantly different from one another in this small pilot trial (N=20-25 in each group). Adverse effects were minimal, suggesting that current alcohol use is not a contraindication for consideration of ketamine.