Conditions It May Help Treat
Below is a list of some conditions that have been successfully treated by ketamine therapy, although the list is not exhaustive.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
The emerging evidence suggests that ketamine is a promising treatment for PTSD, especially in patients who have not responded to conventional medication or therapies (Feder et al., 2014; Sicignano et al., 2024).
PTSD involves disrupted memory processing, hyperarousal, and entrenched fear responses. While most medications take weeks to become effective, ketamine can reduce symptoms of PTSD within hours or days by acting on the brain’s glutamate system and NMDA receptors (Feder et al., 2014; Rasmussen, 2024; Sicignano et al., 2024).
Ketamine enhances the synaptic plasticity that the brain needs to form new neural connections and reprocess traumatic memories in a less emotionally charged way. This neurological reset may reduce emotional reactivity, flashbacks, and avoidance behaviors associated with trauma (Sicignano et al., 2024).
Additionally, ketamine appears to dampen activity in the brain’s default mode network, which is associated with intrusive thoughts and rumination and is often hyperactive in PTSD. Ketamine’s calming effect relieves the hypervigilance commonly experienced by trauma survivors (Feder et al., 2014; Rasmussen, 2024; Sicignano et al., 2024).
When combined with psychotherapy, the clinically supervised administration of ketamine can induce a more receptive state that supports the reintegration of fragmented experiences, which supports insight and healing.
Anxiety
Ketamine is also being administered to patients with chronic and treatment-resistant anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic disorders (McInnes et al., 2022; Rasmussen, 2024).
Unlike traditional anxiolytics, which can take weeks to work or cause dependency, ketamine can produce rapid relief within hours of administration.
Ketamine’s effects on the brain help rewire maladaptive patterns of fear, worry, and hyperarousal associated with chronic anxiety using the mechanisms described above. As a result, many people report feeling a sense of calm detachment, clarity, or emotional reset after treatment (McInnes et al., 2022; Rasmussen, 2024).
Chronic pain
Ketamine can treat chronic pain when traditional painkillers have failed. Originally developed as an anesthetic, ketamine differs from opioids and anti-inflammatories by targeting the brain’s NMDA receptors, which amplify and maintain pain signals in the central nervous system (Al Mukhaizeem et al., 2023; Israel et al., 2021).
In chronic pain conditions, the nervous system becomes hypersensitized, which can cause pain to persist in the absence of injury. Ketamine helps by blocking NMDA receptors, reducing the volume of these amplified pain signals (Al Mukhaizeem et al., 2023; Israel et al., 2021).
Ketamine also helps restore neuroplasticity, which can reverse some of the brain changes caused by long-standing pain. In addition, its anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects may ease the emotional toll of chronic pain, such as anxiety, depression, and fatigue (Niesters et al., 2014).
Treatment-resistant depression
Ketamine is one of the most promising breakthroughs for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), which is defined as depression that does not improve after trying at least two different antidepressants (McInnes et al., 2022; Muscat et al., 2021).
Ketamine works by creating a glutamate surge that stimulates the growth of new synaptic connections in the brain. This process helps restore the damaged neural circuits associated with chronic depression (Muscat et al., 2021).
This activity is thought to reset dysfunctional brain patterns, allowing for greater emotional flexibility and responsiveness to therapy. For people living with TRD, ketamine offers a powerful option when other treatments have failed (Bandeira et al., 2022).
It is typically administered via IV infusion or intranasal spray in a clinical setting with careful monitoring. Ketamine can significantly improve the quality of life for patients with TRD, particularly when combined with ongoing psychotherapy and support (Rădulescu et al., 2021).
Other conditions: OCD and substance abuse disorders
Ketamine is being explored as a potential treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is characterized by intrusive, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety (Bandeira et al., 2022).
As described above, ketamine’s pharmacological actions can help loosen rigid thought patterns. This can reduce obsessive thinking and support the development of emotional flexibility.
Early studies suggest that a single low-dose ketamine infusion can temporarily reduce OCD symptoms, often within hours (Bandeira et al., 2022). These effects may last from several days to a few weeks.
While not a permanent solution, this window of relief can make individuals more receptive to psychotherapy, particularly exposure and response prevention, the gold standard for OCD treatment (Bandeira et al., 2022).
Ketamine is also emerging as a novel treatment for substance use disorders, including addiction to alcohol, opioids, and cocaine, when traditional approaches have not been effective (Goldfine et al., 2023; Walsh et al., 2022).
Unlike medications that target craving or withdrawal symptoms directly, ketamine promotes deep psychological shifts that can disrupt the addictive cycle (Walsh et al., 2022).
Ketamine therapy is gaining traction as a transformative intervention for treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and chronic pain.
Unlike mainstream drugs that target serotonin or dopamine, ketamine works on the brain’s glutamate system, which plays a critical role in mood regulation, neuroplasticity, and learning (Aleksandrova & Phillips, 2021).
Research into the benefits of ketamine therapy supports the claims made above. Here’s a brief snapshot of the science-backed benefits of ketamine therapy to date:
A range of alternatives to ketamine therapy exist, spanning psychedelic, mind–body, and neuromodulation approaches.
