Mental Health Facilities With Ketamine Infusion Therapy in the United States in 2020: Co-Location of Dual Diagnosis Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Among U.S. mental health treatment facilities that offer ketamine infusion therapy, about 63% also provide treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Facilities offering group therapy were more likely to provide this dual diagnosis treatment, while accepting Medicaid was not associated with it. This exploratory study provides up-to-date information on the geographic locations, counseling options, and payment methods of 134 facilities offering ketamine infusion therapy, which may inform future efforts to treat co-occurring depressive and substance use disorders with ketamine and psychotherapy.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Ketamine is an anesthetic that has been identified as an effective therapy for depressive disorders and related symptoms. Some studies have identified ketamine as having the potential to reduce substance use among individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD)-alongside psychotherapy. Further, SUDs often co-occur with depressive disorders. Using the National Mental Health Services Survey 2020, this study examined a national sample of N = 134 U.S. mental health treatment facilities that provide ketamine infusion therapy (KIT) to identify their geographic locations; availability of individual, couples/family, and group counseling; payment options; and capacity to provide treatment for dually diagnosed mental health (MH) and substance use disorders. Approximately 63% (n = 85) of the facilities in this sample had dual diagnosis MH and SUD treatment. Having group therapy was associated with having dual diagnosis MH and SUD treatment. Alternatively, accepting Medicaid was not associated with having dual diagnosis MH and SUD treatment. This exploratory study estimates dual diagnosis MH and SUD treatment availability among MH treatment facilities offering KIT. Given evidence of KIT's ability to effectively treat depressive disorders and that SUDs often co-occur with them (ketamine's effectiveness in treating substance use disorders warrants further study), the present study's up-to-date information about the distribution salient characteristics of MH facilities that offer this effective treatment can inform future efforts to identify the potential of these facilities to treat co-occurring disorders with ketamine and psychotherapy.