Esketamine combined with a mindfulness-based intervention for individuals with alcohol problems.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) June 1, 2024 Emily M Gent, Joshua W Bryan, Maisy A Cleary et al. 20 citations
A double-blind pilot study tested whether a single dose of esketamine, combined with two weeks of daily mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), enhances engagement in meditation and improves alcohol-related outcomes among 28 individuals with alcohol problems. Participants received either sublingual esketamine (115.1 mg) or a vitamin C placebo. Esketamine increased psychological engagement with daily MBI and produced transient decreases in alcohol cravings, along with greater mystical experiences and dissociative states compared to placebo. The findings suggest that esketamine may improve treatment outcomes when paired with mindfulness-based therapies by boosting engagement with meditative practice.