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

In this episode of Talking Ketamine, we delve into the science behind how ketamine works for depression, particularly its rapid antidepressant effects via complex brain mechanisms. We explore research on its potential long-term benefits when used in a therapeutic setting, especially for treatment-resistant depression. A crucial distinction is made between therapeutic use and long-term heavy unsupervised use, which carries real risks. These risks include cognitive impairment, particularly affecting spatial memory, potential links to psychiatric symptoms, and even structural brain changes. While temporary issues with working memory after a therapeutic session are being studied, research on significant impairments is mixed. The episode emphasizes that therapeutic ketamine is a promising tool, but it is absolutely vital to separate this from the dangers of heavy non-therapeutic use.

Join us to explore a surprising link: Ketamine and lung cancer outcomes. Intraoperative Ketamine, used during surgery for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), is linked to a lower rate of cancer recurrence. This is unexpected for an anesthetic.

But here's the paradox: a study found that weeks after surgery, the Ketamine group had more circulating rare events (CRE) – tumor-associated cells/fragments in the blood.

How can more of these potentially concerning events mean better long-term results (less recurrence)?

Researchers hypothesize Ketamine might disrupt the tumor environment, increasing shedding. The intriguing idea is that this temporary increase could make shed cancer cells/fragments more visible or vulnerable to the body's immune system or treatments.

This challenges the simple view that more circulating biomarkers are not always bad. It suggests Ketamine could unexpectedly modulate tumor biology. We discuss this early research, which includes contributions from a cancer survivor and aspiring physician-scientist.

Tune in to unpack this fascinating possibility!

Abstract: https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2025-1978

CRE background: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-024-00984-4

Lead Author: https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/the-detectives-apprentice/

Dive into episode 10 as we build upon our discussion of ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects from episode 9! This time, we explore a fascinating frontier: using automated tools and ketamine games to help those positive changes stick around longer.

Discover how researchers are investigating interactive computer programs, like apps, to engage the brain's neuroplasticity and solidify the benefits of ketamine. We'll delve into Rejoyn, an FDA-authorized prescription digital therapeutic that combines brain training exercises and therapy lessons for adults with depression on medication. While not specifically for use with ketamine, its approach of leveraging neuroplasticity to rebuild connections and rework emotional processing echoes the potential we discussed.

We also examine the exciting concept of ketamine games, inspired by the principles of Automated Self-Association Training (ASAT) explored in episode 9, which aims to boost self-worth and prolong ketamine's effects by using positive reinforcement, smiling faces, and personalized elements. Could these innovative, low-cost, and portable techniques be the key to extending relief from depression after ketamine treatment? Tune in to find out!

This episode explores how to extend the rapid but short-lived benefits of ketamine treatment for depression. While ketamine can significantly improve mood within 24 hours, these effects often fade within one to two weeks.

The focus is on a study investigating whether combining a single ketamine infusion with Automated Self-Association Training (ASAT), a computer-based training targeting self-worth, could prolong the antidepressant effect. The idea is that ketamine might create a window of enhanced neuroplasticity, making the brain more receptive to learning.

This original study can be found here.

This podcast episode provides a brief overview of Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAT), a therapeutic approach that integrates ketamine medication with psychological work to help individuals facing health challenges. Listeners can expect to learn about how KAT differs from regular talk therapy through the involvement of ketamine, which can induce altered perceptions and feelings.

The episode outlines the structured process of KAT, including preparation sessions to understand the therapy and set intentions, the ketamine session itself in a comfortable setting often with music, and crucial integration sessions to process the experience. You'll hear about the emphasis on "set and setting", including the importance of a calm environment and the guiding role of music.

The discussion also touches on the potential for intense experiences and feelings of vulnerability after a session, highlighting the need for support. The episode emphasizes that while KAT offers hope, particularly for those who haven't found relief with traditional treatments, it is not a magic bullet and everyone's experience can differ.

This podcast is based on Grace Stockwell's thesis "Understanding the Experience of Ketamine-Assisted Therapy and the Importance of Context" for a degree of Master of Health Psychology at The University of Auckland, 2023.