J Psychopharmacol
April 23, 2024
Evan Cole Lewis, Alexandria Jaeger, Manesh Girn et al.
6 citations
This review examines how psychedelic-assisted therapy might help treat functional seizures, a type of functional neurological disorder. The authors explore potential underlying mechanisms, focusing on how psychedelics could affect brain networks involved in emotion, self-awareness, and body perception that are disrupted in functional seizures. They suggest that psychedelics may help by promoting neuroplasticity and altering connectivity in key brain regions, potentially allowing patients to process traumatic memories and reduce seizure frequency. The review indicates that while preliminary evidence is promising, more research is needed to establish safety and efficacy.
Journal of psychoactive drugs
January 1, 2024
Reid Robison, Madeline Brendle, Claire Moore et al.
Ten frontline healthcare workers with burnout and PTSD symptoms were treated with group ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in a private clinic. They attended six weekly sessions: one preparation, three ketamine sessions (two sublingual, one intramuscular), and two integration sessions. PTSD, depression, and anxiety scores improved from pre- to post-treatment, with a 59% reduction in PTSD scores, 58% reduction in depression scores, and 36% reduction in anxiety scores. After treatment, all participants screened negative for PTSD, 90% had minimal or mild depression, and 60% had minimal or mild anxiety. Ketamine was well tolerated with no significant adverse events. Participant feedback supported the improvements.
Journal of eating disorders
May 6, 2022
Reid Robison, Adele Lafrance, Madeline Brendle et al.
In a small case series of five patients with eating disorders and co-occurring mood and anxiety disorders, group-based ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (G-KAP) delivered weekly over four weeks in a residential treatment setting was associated with clinically significant improvements in depression scores (PHQ-9) for four of five participants and in anxiety scores (GAD-7) for two of five participants, measured from before dosing to 24 hours after the final session. No serious adverse events occurred, and the protocol was reported as practical to implement. The findings suggest G-KAP may be a useful adjunct to intensive eating disorder treatment, though further research is needed.
Brain sciences
March 12, 2022
Anya Ragnhildstveit, Matthew Slayton, Laura Kate Jackson et al.
Eating disorders are serious psychiatric conditions with limited treatment options. Ketamine, a drug approved for treatment-resistant depression, is now being investigated for eating disorders. This review examines the evidence for ketamine in treating anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Results are encouraging but limited to case reports on anorexia nervosa. More research is needed to determine ketamine's effectiveness across different eating disorder types, establish safety, and optimize dosing.