5 Benefits of Ketamine Therapy for Anxiety and Mood Disorders

Though traditionally utilized for its anesthetic qualities, ketamine infusion therapy has recently emerged as an innovative and complementary treatment option.

Ketamine has been suggested to offer faster-acting relief and increased neural connectivity in those struggling with acute and treatment-resistant anxiety and depression. Although additional research is needed and individual results may vary, ketamine therapy provides hope for those unable to find reliable and effective treatment options through traditional therapies.

Below, we summarize five benefits, highlighting the significance of ketamine’s role in supporting those navigating their distinct mental health journeys.

1. Rapid relief of symptoms

Ketamine therapy is emerging as a potential alternative in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders, in part due to its capacity for rapid relief compared to traditional medications. Although duration and response time vary, many individuals report a reduction in symptoms earlier than with oral medications. This quick onset can be instrumental for those struggling with acute and chronic symptoms.

In fact, some studies have highlighted this within patient populations experiencing suicidal ideation. After receiving intravenous (IV) ketamine treatment, 78 percent of patients demonstrated either a rapid or gradual reduction in suicidal symptoms. When compared to the weeks in which traditional anti-depressants can begin to take effect, ketamine for anxiety and mood disorders offers a valuable window of opportunity for those needing more immediate support.

Though IV ketamine therapy may provide significant initial support, it is not a fix. In individuals struggling with severe depression, ketamine may provide lasting support, up to days or weeks. As such, individuals may require ongoing dosing to maintain benefits. However, these remission and maintenance periods may be elongated when combined with traditional treatments such as talk therapy and anti-depressant medications.

Furthermore, with its unique properties and potential ability to increase the efficacy of existing treatment methods, ketamine has shown promise within treatment-resistant populations.

2. Support for treatment-resistant conditions

Studies have suggested that ketamine not only provides rapid relief in symptoms, but, when medically supervised, also indicates effectiveness in treatment-resistant anxiety and depression. This is significant for those who may have exhausted other options and found traditional treatments to be ineffective.

Anxiety Treatment

The inability to find adequate relief from chronic and treatment-resistant anxiety can be overwhelming; however, the failure to properly address it can have its own consequences. etamine appears to support the treatment of anxiety by promoting neural plasticity and growth within the damaged neuronal connections.

In fact, research suggests that ketamine is effective for anxiety treatment even with individuals who have co-occurring mood disorders such as treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Mood Disorder Treatment

In studies examining the effects of ketamine within TRD populations, individuals receiving ketamine demonstrated reduced depression scores. Additionally, the longer durations of symptom remission and stability observed in these populations, when taken in conjunction with regular anti-depressant medications, suggest promise for the use of ketamine in multi-modality treatment plans.

Another salient point supporting ketamine as an alternative for those who haven’t responded to traditional methods lies within its method of action. Whereas most anti-depressants have historically targeted serotonin, ketamine’s effects seem to be related to its interaction with NMDA receptors and subsequent glutamate activity.

3. Enhancing mood and cognitive flexibility

Glutamate, known for its role in learning, memory, and mood regulation, is theorized to be imbalanced in those struggling with anxiety and mood disorders. Ketamine’s influence on glutamate activity is believed to help re-establish equilibrium within the brain’s glutamate system.

Additionally, through its interaction with glutamate receptors and synapses, ketamine is suggested to promote neuroplasticity changes. This is important for those seeking treatment for mood disorders, such as depression, which impacts nerve cells’ abilities to communicate effectively.

In fact, individuals with depression appear to have fewer of the synapses required for this communication overall. Ketamine is distinct in that it may encourage the growth of new and existing neural connections, as well as facilitate increased connections within these damaged areas.

In addition to contributing to a reduction in depressive symptoms, these complex interactions are believed to foster the development of positive thought patterns and behaviours. Nevertheless, neuroplastic changes within the brain’s circuitry are not immediate, emphasizing the potential need for follow-up doses to maintain benefits.

Importantly, it is the resulting dissociative effects of these neuronal interactions that encourage deeper insights and increased efficacy when paired with psychotherapy. Our licensed practitioners are OHIP-covered and understand the significance of patient integration, thus maximizing the overall benefits of the ketamine experience.

4. A supportive healing environment

It is thought that IV ketamine therapy, when done in conjunction with psychotherapy, helps to facilitate deeper emotional processing and reflection. At Ketamine Therapy Clinic, we provide comfortable, private rooms for the infusion process. By reducing distractions and prioritizing relaxation within the clinical environment, patients are better able to prepare emotionally. This is particularly important for anxiety treatment, as well as treatment of mood disorders.

Also, individuals are better able to stay attuned to their emotional states after having conducted a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation prior to the infusion process. This allows patients the opportunity to form realistic expectations, identify their goals, and create a personalized treatment plan that is both measurable and tailored to their specific needs.

This commitment to individualized care extends beyond the treatment plan to include intravenous treatments that are adjusted in real-time based on individual needs.

5. Safe, supervised, and regulated care

A critical factor in utilizing ketamine for anxiety and mood disorder treatment is ensuring appropriate medical oversight. Monitoring and supervision are important not only for the potential of side effects, such as dizziness and nausea, but also due to the dissociation from reality that patients may experience.

By conducting an in-depth psychiatric and medical review, our clinic is better equipped to predict potential contra-indications or side effects that may interfere with treatment efficacy. Regulated by the College of Physicians, our patients can trust that they are receiving care in compliance with strict medical standards. Ketamine therapy, when supervised medically, allows physicians to oversee effects, monitor long-term use, and control for variables such as addictive potential.

Though more research is needed to explore questions such as long-term effectiveness, side effects, and optimal patient populations, our all-physician team at Ketamine Therapy Clinic prioritizes safety by carefully screening patient suitability.

Contact Ketamine Therapy Clinic for Effective Anxiety Treatment

Though ketamine is often not considered as a first option for anxiety treatment and mood disorder care, it offers a compelling alternative for those who haven’t responded to traditional treatments. Furthermore, in comparison, ketamine is suggested to offer a rapid reduction of these chronic and often overwhelming symptoms.

Lastly, ketamine holds promise in its unique mechanism of action. Believed to have its effect by modulating glutamate activity, ketamine encourages neuroplasticity within associated brain areas. When clinically supervised and regulated, IV ketamine therapy allows for the potential of healing, thus supporting greater mental adaptability and mood regulation.

If you’re curious about the suitability of ketamine therapy for the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders, or simply wish to learn more, call Ketamine Therapy Clinic at 888-259-9755, email us at admin@ketaminetherapyclinic.ca, or contact us here.