Ketamine therapy is increasingly explored for mental health, but what about the potential risks? In this crucial episode, we delve into the landscape of ketamine use disorder, drawing on insights from a significant 2025 study based on the direct experiences of 274 individuals with KUD.

Learn about the common physical warning signs reported by people with KUD, including prevalent bladder and nasal problems, and the intense 'K-cramps'. Discover the challenging abstinence and withdrawal symptoms they experienced when trying to cut back or stop, such as intense cravings, low mood, and anxiety.

The episode also highlights a striking finding: the significant lack of awareness among users, peers, and even professionals regarding ketamine's risks and addictive potential.

Whether you're considering or currently undergoing ketamine therapy, this episode provides vital information on signs to look out for and underscores the importance of open conversations with healthcare providers to navigate this treatment both effectively and safely.

Read the study discussed in this episode: https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70073

Welcome to "Talking Ketamine, episode 14 of the deep dive"! This episode dives into the real experiences and personal stories of individuals who have undergone ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT), exploring how this approach might differ from using ketamine alone. The discussion is based on a phenomenological study that conducted in-depth interviews with 10 people six or more months after they completed ketamine assisted psychotherapy (PAT/KAT/PAP).

Participants shared their motivations for seeking KAT, often after traditional therapies felt ineffective or insufficient for their deep-seated issues, sometimes complicated by physical health problems. The study sought the "real lived story" of what happens when ketamine is combined with therapy, what shifts occur, and if they are lasting.

Key insights from their experiences during KAT sessions included profound emotional release and catharsis. Sessions were varied and deeply personal. A significant focus was working on core negative beliefs like "I'm not good enough" and finding self-acceptance, potentially aided by the altered state and the therapeutic relationship.

Looking back months later, participants reported significant, lasting improvements in emotional regulation and coping with stress. They described healthier relationships with self and others, including setting boundaries, and engaged in self-care practices. These changes were consistently described as a "turning point," "catalyst," or "profound transformation".

These accounts offer a sense of hope and provide compelling insights about the value and impact of combining ketamine with dedicated therapy.

Bricker, M. K. (2025). Understanding Change Following Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: A Phenomenological Study. (Doctoral dissertation, Liberty University). https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7899&context=doctoral

Step inside a ketamine therapy session for depression, from the patient's point of view. In this episode of Talking Ketamine (episode 13), we look at the immediate personal experience, drawing on a qualitative study published in 2021. This study interviewed 13 people with treatment-resistant depression about what it was like during and right after their ketamine infusions.

Participants described initial sensations during the infusion including a feeling like a high, enhanced perception (sounds and sights more intense, colors more vibrant), and dissociation, sometimes feeling detached or having an out-of-body experience. Many also felt very relaxed, even sleepy.

In the hours and days following the infusion, many reported a significant uplifted feeling and a real brightened mood. They described feeling bright, using phrases like having "fire in their belly", and contrasting it with depression, which felt like "lifting darkness away like a weight just gone".

Beyond mood, there was a noticeable boost in motivation and the ability to do everyday tasks they'd struggled with, like cooking or being sociable. Relationships could feel stronger. Cognitively, people had more positive thoughts and fewer negative ones. A very significant finding was a major reduction in suicidal ideation, moving towards wanting to live again and seeing a future. Some felt their mindset was reframed or reprogrammed, describing the change as going from "gray and black" to "technicolor".

The experience was also shaped by the conducive and safe environment and feeling supported by caring staff.

Important Note: The study highlighted that not everyone responds the same way, some are non-responders, and the duration of positive effects varies greatly. However, these firsthand accounts offer powerful insights into the potential impact of ketamine for those with severe depression.

Griffiths, C., Walker, K., Reid, I., Maravic da Silva, K., & O’Neill-Kerr, A. (2021). A qualitative study of patients’ experience of ketamine treatment for depression: The ‘Ketamine and me’ project. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 4, 100079 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100079