Barriers and Access to Care for Firefighters with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Seeking Ketamine Assisted Therapy: a qualitative study.
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine February 2, 2026 Vivian Wl Tsang, Tavneet Walia, Katherine Sattler et al. 1 citation
Firefighters face higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population, with an average prevalence of 7.3% compared to 1.3–3.5%. Conventional treatments often show limited effectiveness, and ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT) has emerged as a promising option. Interviews with six firefighters enrolled in but not yet started a KAT program revealed four major themes: feeling stuck and reaching a breaking point, stigma surrounding both PTSD and ketamine treatment, the need for self-advocacy to access care, and significant financial and logistical barriers. The findings underscore the need for systemic changes to better support treatment-seeking individuals.