H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S
Ketamine For Depression By Jennifer Bryant
A
s a clinical mental health counseling student at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah, I have been researching the benefits and risks of ketamine treatment. What I have found is that numerous people are, indeed, finding relief from their depression with the treatments. Treatments are held in clinical settings, typically with a choice of comfortable chairs and headphones. A nurse practitioner or an anesthesiologist, sometimes both, are present during the administration of the ketamine and throughout the treatment. There is an immediate disassociation that happens when ketamine is administered that is best explained as having an out of body experience, as if the mind and body are two separate entities. I have heard differing reports of the actual experiences that are had during this period of disassociation. Some people have stated that they have interesting and insightful experiences and others have expressed that they have been drawn into darkness that has been frightening and negative. Of all the people I talked to about their experiences, all but one reported a positive overall experience. Ketamine treatment for depression is an increasingly popular option for those who suffer with the debilitating disease. This cost-effective method
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of treatment is meant to be used by those who have a history of using prescription medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. Historically, ketamine has been used as a sedative in medicine, as well as a hallucinogen in recreational use. Because of the “relaxed” and “happy” feelings that come as a result of using ketamine, it is proving to be effective in the treatment of depression and other mental health illnesses. The recovery process after ketamine treatment varies from person to person. Some people reported that they were back to a normal state within a matter of hours, whereas others reported that it took a matter of days to fully recover from the effects. Some clinics will offer an antinausea prior to the treatment to reduce residual side effects. Nausea was the most common after effect that was reported, as well as a feeling of being “hungover” for a period of time. There are, however, important risks
