Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has for decades been used to start or maintain anesthesia during invasive body procedures. It has also come under the spotlight in recent years thanks to its potential as a highly effective treatment for treatment-refractory mental health illnesses like depression, anxiety disorders, and suicidal ideations.

This has stirred a resurgence of interest in the possible therapeutic applications of psychedelics, which has been further fueled by the FDA’s recent approval of esketamine (a ketamine-derived nasal spray) as a treatment for treatment-refractory major depressive disorder. So, is ketamine a psychedelic medicine?

What is a Psychedelic Substance? 

To understand if ketamine is a psychedelic, we must first understand what psychedelics are. Psychedelics are natural and synthetic medications (legal or otherwise) that produce profound changes in consciousness, perception, and emotion.

The most well-known psychedelic is LSD, but there are many others including psilocybin (magic mushrooms), DMT, and mescaline (found in peyote). Some of these substances have been used for centuries by indigenous cultures for ceremonial and spiritual purposes. Psychedelics can produce powerful experiences that may be pleasant or unpleasant. The key characteristic that all psychedelics share is that they disrupt the usual brain function and allow access to different states of consciousness. 

So, What about Ketamine?

Ketamine was first synthesized in 1962 and has mostly been used as an FDA-approved anesthetic for humans. However, ketamine has demonstrated efficacy as a rapid-acting antidepressant and has shown promise in the treatment of various other mental health disorders.

Interestingly, ketamine’s therapeutic effects seem to be mediated by its psychedelic properties, at least in part. In other words, the psychedelic effects of ketamine seem to play a part in its ability to relieve depression and anxiety symptoms.

Researchers believe ketamine’s psychedelic effects are due to its interaction with various receptors in the brain, creating changes in neural circuits that reduce cognitive rigidity and allow for meaningful and transformative experiences.

Applications in Psychotherapy

Thanks to its unique ability to produce profound changes in consciousness, ketamine has found application as an adjunct therapy in various settings, including psychotherapy. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is a type of therapy that uses ketamine as a tool to help patients access different states of consciousness and facilitate therapeutic change.

During KAP sessions, patients are usually administered a low-dose intravenous (IV) ketamine while lying down in a comfortable and safe setting. They are then free to explore their inner thoughts and feelings while in this altered state of consciousness. The therapist is present to provide support, guidance, and interpretation as needed.

KAP has been shown to accelerate and deepen the therapeutic process, helping patients to gain insight into their condition and reach a place of healing and self-acceptance much faster than with traditional talk therapy alone.

The Future of Mental Health Treatments

The FDA’s recent approval of esketamine has paved the way for other psychedelics to be studied and developed as potential treatments for mental health disorders. This is a major breakthrough that could potentially lead to more effective and rapid-acting treatments for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other debilitating mental conditions.

The Bottom Line

Ketamine is a psychedelic medicine that has shown great promise in the treatment of various mental health disorders. Thanks to its unique ability to produce meaningful changes in consciousness, ketamine is proving to be an invaluable tool in the treatment of refractory mental illness and could potentially revolutionize mental health care.