Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy: A revolution in the treatment of mental illness

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a groundbreaking method that combines traditional psychotherapeutic approaches with the administration of ketamine. This innovative treatment method, offered at the renowned Almas Institute and Las Almas clinics, enables patients to resolve deep-rooted emotional blockages and gain new perspectives, which can lead to faster and more sustained improvement in symptoms.

What is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy?

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy involves a series of sessions tailored to the individual's needs. Treatment typically begins with a ketamine infusion, followed by a psychotherapy session. This method uses the anesthetic ketamine at low doses to induce an altered state of consciousness in a safe environment. This facilitates profound change and enables the development of new insights.

Why ketamine in psychotherapy?

Ketamine has been proven effective in reducing depressive and anxious states. It expands the window of stress tolerance, making it easier for patients to open up and experience themselves in a new way. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, as practiced at the Almas Institute, integrates various psychotherapeutic methods to facilitate new experiences and integrate unprocessed memories. This leads to greater self-compassion, clarity, and serenity.

How does ketamine-assisted psychotherapy work?

Ketamine works by inhibiting the activity of the NMDA receptor in the brain, leading to increased release of glutamate. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of mood, cognition, and pain. The ketamine-induced opening of the mind increases the brain's neuroplasticity, or ability to change and rewire itself. This allows patients to have new experiences and change negative behavioral patterns.

Treatment approaches in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy

The Almas Institute uses various treatment approaches based on attachment and polyvagal theory:

  • hypnosis
  • IFS (Systemic Therapy with Inner Personality Aspects)
  • Body-oriented techniques
  • Attachment and polyvagal theory
  • Psychotraumatology

Clinical pictures and areas of application

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can be used to treat a wide range of mental illnesses. At the Almas Institute, we achieve good results in:

  • Severe depressive disorders
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Addictions
  • Chronic pain
  • Long Covid

Combination with other therapies

Because ketamine promotes neuroplasticity, it is ideal for combination with other therapeutic modalities to enhance their effectiveness. At the Almas Institute, therapies are individually tailored to each patient. Possible combination therapies include:

  • rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation): This method stimulates the brain's neuroplasticity and can enhance the effects of ketamine infusions.
  • Neurofeedback: Allows the patient to see their brain activity in real time and learn to regulate it themselves.
  • Psychotherapy: Helps the patient understand the causes of their illness and develop new coping strategies.

What makes ketamine-assisted psychotherapy so special?

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy offers several advantages:

  • Fast and lasting effect: Ketamine infusions can provide rapid symptom relief in treatment-resistant depression and other mental illnesses. In combination with psychotherapy, this effect can be deepened and stabilized over the long term.
  • Depth psychological work: The ketamine-induced opening of the mind allows patients to reach and work through deeper emotional layers.
  • New perspectives: Ketamine can enable new ways of thinking and perspectives that can break the vicious cycle of negative thought patterns.
  • Personal development: This form of therapy can not only help relieve symptoms but also promote the patient’s personal development.

Side effects and risks

Ketamine-assisted therapy represents a promising, innovative treatment option for people with depression and other mental illnesses. Ketamine infusions, in particular, have proven to be well-tolerated. Possible side effects include a short-term increase in blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or headaches – however, these usually subside quickly. In our practice, the incidence of unpleasant side effects is less than 4%. Should side effects occur, the infusion can be stopped immediately, after which the symptoms usually subside within a few minutes.

A key advantage of intravenous ketamine infusion is that the treatment can be individually dosed and flexibly tailored to the patient's specific condition. The drip rate can be adjusted at any time, allowing precise control and increasing the safety of the treatment. In contrast, with Spravato (ketamine nasal spray), the absorbed dose is less precisely controllable; potential side effects are more difficult to manage after use because the medication cannot be discontinued immediately and its effects wear off more slowly.

IV ketamine therapy thus not only allows for faster intervention in the event of side effects, but also for individually optimized dosage – aspects that can contribute to greater patient safety and better treatment outcomes.

Conclusion

Ketamine-assisted therapy, as practiced at the Las Almas Institute and Las Almas practices, offers new hope for patients suffering from serious mental illnesses. By combining ketamine infusions with psychotherapeutic approaches, profound emotional blockages can be released and new perspectives can be gained. This method has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental illnesses, enabling patients to experience faster and more sustained improvement in their symptoms.

Please also check out our "Studies" page. There you will find evidence-based studies and publications on our individual procedures: https://www.lasalmasgroup.com/studien/