What Is Ketamine Therapy? A Guide to This Emerging Mental Health Treatment
In recent years, ketamine therapy has gained attention as a powerful new approach for treating mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more. Ketamine has a long history in medical settings as an anesthetic, and researchers have discovered its potential to help people heal emotionally and psychologically, especially when traditional treatments haven’t been effective.
A Brief History
The FDA first approved ketamine in the 1970s as a surgical anesthetic. It’s still widely used in emergency and surgical settings because of its safety profile and fast-acting effects. In the early 2000s, researchers began to explore ketamine's antidepressant properties. Since then, studies have shown promising results in reducing symptoms of treatment-resistant depression, suicidal ideation, and other mood disorders.
How It Works
Unlike traditional antidepressants, which may take weeks to work and target neurotransmitters like serotonin, ketamine works differently. It interacts with the brain’s glutamate system—specifically the NMDA receptor—which plays a key role in learning, memory, and neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to adapt and change).
This mechanism is believed to help "reset" certain neural pathways, offering rapid relief from symptoms and making the brain more receptive to change. Many people describe ketamine sessions as providing a shift in perspective, emotional release, or a new sense of clarity.
Types of Ketamine Therapy
There are several ways ketamine is administered for therapeutic purposes:
Intravenous (IV) Infusion: Delivered through a slow drip in a medical setting.
Intramuscular (IM) Injection: Given as a shot in the muscle, often used in therapeutic or clinical settings.
Nasal Spray (Esketamine): FDA-approved under the brand name Spravato for treatment-resistant depression, administered in clinics.
Oral (Lozenges or Troches): Sometimes used in therapy practices under medical supervision.
Each route has different onset times, durations, and dosing considerations. The choice depends on the individual’s needs and the provider’s approach.
The Role of Therapy
Ketamine by itself can offer temporary symptom relief, but many professionals emphasize the importance of combining it with psychotherapy. This is often called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). In this approach, ketamine is used alongside talk therapy or integrative processing sessions to help individuals make sense of what comes up during their experience and to support lasting change.
What Conditions Can It Help With?
Ketamine therapy is being explored for a range of mental health conditions, including:
Treatment-resistant depression
Anxiety
PTSD
OCD
Suicidal ideation
Chronic pain (in some settings)
It’s important to note that ketamine therapy isn’t a magic cure or a quick fix. It’s a tool—and like any tool, how it’s used matters. It should always be administered under the supervision of a licensed medical professional, and not everyone is a good candidate.
Is Ketamine Safe?
When administered in controlled, clinical settings by trained providers, ketamine is generally considered safe. Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, dissociation (a sensation of floating or being out of body), and temporary increases in blood pressure. These effects typically wear off quickly. People with certain medical or psychiatric conditions may not be eligible, which is why a thorough screening process is essential.
Final Thoughts
Ketamine therapy represents a promising frontier in mental health treatment, particularly for those who haven’t found relief through traditional methods. It offers a different kind of access—one that bypasses the usual mental defenses and allows people to engage with their inner world in new, often transformative ways.
As research continues to expand, ketamine is likely to play an increasing role in how we understand and support psychological healing.