Ketamine combined with psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression: Real-world outcomes and the role of subjective experience.
General hospital psychiatry January 1, 2026 Rebeca Cohen, João Bastos, Catarina Cunha et al. 1 citation
A case series of 12 patients with treatment-resistant depression treated with a novel protocol combining ketamine injections (0.5-1.5 mg/kg intramuscularly, 5-8 sessions) and brief psychodynamic psychotherapy found that 67% responded and 58% achieved remission. Half of the patients maintained remission at 3-month and 1-year follow-ups. Ego dissolution during the third ketamine session correlated with symptom improvement and psychological insight. The results suggest that combining ketamine with psychotherapy may enhance and prolong antidepressant effects beyond ketamine alone.