Combined Effects of Nasal Ketamine and Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy in Treatment-Resistant Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Case Series.
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) August 16, 2024 Judith Rohde, Elena Hickmann, Marco Buchmann et al. 7 citations
A pilot case series tested an eight-week program combining nasally administered ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) with trauma-focused psychotherapy for three individuals with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD. Clinically relevant reductions in PTSD symptoms were observed, with CAPS-5 scores decreasing by an average of 18 points after treatment and 25 points at follow-up. Depressive symptoms also improved, with HAMD scores dropping by an average of 8.3 points after treatment and 9 points at follow-up. Additional benefits included reduced anxiety, fewer dissociations, and better emotion regulation. The ketamine was well tolerated and provided immediate relief from tension, anxiety, and common PTSD symptoms. The authors note that randomized controlled trials are needed to validate these findings.