Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related conditions can develop following exposure to distressing or life-altering events. Although PTSD has historically been associated with military veterans, it can affect individuals from all backgrounds who have experienced trauma. This includes survivors of childhood abuse, sexual assault, serious accidents, violence, and natural disasters.
Ketamine therapy is an emerging treatment option that is being explored for its potential to help alleviate the persistent and often debilitating symptoms associated with PTSD and trauma-related disorders.
Despite being a relatively new treatment option, ketamine has shown promising results for PTSD treatment. Studies have found that treatment alleviated symptoms in a majority of patients with PTSD, suggesting that these effects may be linked to ketamine’s ability to enhance neuroplasticity and promote changes involved in fear processing and emotional regulation.
Ketamine affects the brain differently than other medicines prescribed for PTSD. Research has shown that ketamine for PTSD works by:
Quickly increasing levels of glutamate, the most common neurotransmitter in the brain.
Growing new neural pathways and repairing damaged ones, as shown through FMRI brain scans.
Inducing rapid synaptic plasticity changes, which occur within hours after ketamine administration.
Ketamine alleviates the worst symptoms of PTSD, allowing patients to process and uniquely move beyond their trauma. While ketamine is not a cure for PTSD, it presents a window of opportunity for healing symptoms that many patients have never experienced before.
Ketamine-mediated synaptic plasticity changes appear to occur within a matter of hours after ketamine administration.”
Beyond its rapid effects on brain plasticity, ketamine has been shown in multiple studies to help reduce PTSD symptoms by calming and rebalancing the brain’s “fear network.”
In PTSD, the brain areas responsible for detecting threat and triggering fear responses can become overly reactive and tightly linked, so that reminders of trauma feel immediate and overwhelming even when there is no real danger.
Neuroimaging research suggests that ketamine may help loosen this overactive connection between the Amygdala (the brain’s threat detection center) and other regions that amplify emotional significance, while at the same time strengthening communication with the Prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for reasoning and emotional regulation. In practical terms, this allows a person to respond to reminders of trauma with less intensity and more control.
At New Pathways Clinic, we offer:
1) the most experienced team in Ohio for providing ketamine therapy for PTSD and trauma
2) a holistic approach to mental wellness
3) encouragement to maintain or engage in mental health therapy during ketamine treatments
4) a network of psychologists available to accompany treatments upon request
Have you suffered from PTSD and not yet found the healing you require?
Do you wonder why current medications don’t seem to help your treatment plan?
Schedule a free phone consultation with our experienced team at New Pathways Clinic to learn whether ketamine treatment is right for your care.
Ketamine IV infusions help break up negative thought patterns by opening new neural pathways in the brain, allowing patients to process and move through past traumas. Ketamine has been shown to quickly increase the production of glutamate, a key neurotransmitter in the brain that is essential for alleviating PTSD symptoms.
To begin treatment for PTSD, submit an intake form and schedule an initial assessment with our nurse practitioner. If you are a suitable candidate, you will then schedule a series of six ketamine IV treatments.
While rare, there are some contraindications for ketamine therapy. Only a medical professional, such as our nurse practitioner, can thoroughly assess your specific situation during the initial assessment to determine if ketamine treatment is appropriate for you.
In most cases, patients can continue their usual PTSD medications while receiving ketamine infusions. However, this decision ultimately depends on the advice of a medical professional.
Studies have shown that ketamine therapy can produce rapid reductions in PTSD symptoms in some patients, often within hours or even days.
In most cases, patients can expect acute relief from PTSD symptoms and associated depression after completing a series of ketamine infusions.
Yes, the relief of PTSD symptoms is commonly associated with a reduction in depression and anxiety levels.
Absolutely. We offer a free support group for patients, as well as the option for ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KATP). Additionally, our nurse practitioner can refer patients to a network of trusted psychologists for further support.
Family members and caregivers can sign a Release of Information (ROI) form, which allows them to attend the ketamine infusion sessions and provide support throughout the treatment process.