Regarding the Transpersonal Nature of Ketamine Therapy: An Approach to the Work

Becker, Jeffrey

doi:10.24972/ijts.2014.33.2.151

Cited by 7 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The transpersonal experience of ketamine may bring on new perspectives, stimulate critical reframing, and offer personal insights to clients. 23 , 28 , 31 , 32 These findings parallel the relationship between psychedelic experience and treatment outcome in psilocybin studies. 23 The overarching goal of linking psychotherapy with psychedelics such as MDMA and psilocybin, and more recently, ketamine, is to augment the effects of the psychotherapy through conscious awareness.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature

Drozdz¹,

Goel²,

McGarr³

et al. 2022

JPR

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Currently, ketamine is used in treating multiple pain, mental health, and substance abuse disorders due to rapid-acting analgesic and antidepressant effects. Its limited short-term durability has motivated research into the potential synergistic actions between ketamine and psychotherapy to sustain benefits. This systematic review on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) summarizes existing evidence regarding present-day practices. Through rigorous review, seventeen articles that included 603 participants were identified. From available KAP publications, it is apparent that combined treatments can, in specific circumstances, initiate and prolong clinically significant reductions in pain, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, while encouraging rapport and treatment engagement, and promoting abstinence in patients addicted to other substances. Despite much variance in how KAP is applied (route of ketamine administration, ketamine dosage/frequency, psychotherapy modality, overall treatment length), these findings suggest psychotherapy, provided before, during, and following ketamine sessions, can maximize and prolong benefits. Additional large-scale randomized control trials are warranted to understand better the mutually influential relationships between psychotherapy and ketamine in optimizing responsiveness and sustaining long-term benefits in patients with chronic pain. Such investigations will assist in developing standardized practices and maintenance programs.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature

Drozdz¹,

Goel²,

McGarr³

et al. 2022

JPR

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“…The preponderance of preliminary evidence suggests that when prescribed at higher subanesthetic doses, the experiential effects of ketamine offer a unique therapeutic opportunity for TRD subjects-regardless of how those effects are characterized. Becker (2014 [63]) postulated that ketamine's beneficial and sustained psychological effects may be greatly enhanced by the brief transformational state of consciousness that is induced, and by the positive impact this experience has on subsequent psychotherapy sessions. Wolfson (2014) agreed that "ketamine assisted psychotherapy's value is inextricably linked with the psychedelic experience that ketamine induces" (p. 37, [63]).…”

Section: Therapeutic Impacts Of Ketamine-induced Peak and Mystical-ty...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Becker (2014 [63]) postulated that ketamine's beneficial and sustained psychological effects may be greatly enhanced by the brief transformational state of consciousness that is induced, and by the positive impact this experience has on subsequent psychotherapy sessions. Wolfson (2014) agreed that "ketamine assisted psychotherapy's value is inextricably linked with the psychedelic experience that ketamine induces" (p. 37, [63]).…”

Section: Therapeutic Impacts Of Ketamine-induced Peak and Mystical-ty...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimized Clinical Strategies for Treatment-Resistant Depression: Integrating Ketamine Protocols with Trauma- and Attachment-Informed Psychotherapy

Muscat

Hartelius

Crouch

et al. 2022

Psych

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Strategically timed trauma- and attachment-informed psychotherapy to address underlying emotional wounds, paired with ketamine administered in precision-calibrated doses to ensure high-entropy brain states, may be key to improving the quality and duration of ketamine’s therapeutic efficacy for treatment-resistant depression. This approach optimizes the opportunities for change created by ketamine’s known effects as a rapid antidepressant that stimulates synaptogenesis, normalizes neural connectivity and coherence, enhances neuroplasticity, reduces inflammation, and induces high-entropy brain states with associated subjective psychedelic experiences. Ketamine, a non-selective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist is a safe, effective, fast-acting dissociative anesthetic that, as a standalone treatment, also exhibits rapid sustained antidepressant effects, even in many patients with treatment-resistant depression. A prior history of developmental trauma and attachment injuries are known primary factors in the etiology of treatment resistance in depression and other mental disorders. Thus, the adjunct of targeted psychotherapy attuned to trauma and attachment injuries may enhance and prolong ketamine efficacy and provide an opportunity for lasting therapeutic change. Psychotherapy engagement during repeated ketamine sessions for patient safety and integration of altered states, paired with separate individualized psychotherapy-only sessions timed 24–48 h post ketamine induction, takes advantage of peak ketamine-induced dendritic spine growth in the prefrontal cortex and limbic system, and normalized network connectivity across brain structures. This strategically timed paired-session approach also exploits the therapeutic potential created by precision-calibrated ketamine-linked high-entropy brain states and associated psychedelic experiences that are posited to disrupt overly rigid maladaptive thoughts, behaviors, and disturbing memories associated with treatment-resistant depression; paired sessions also support integration of the felt sense of happiness and connectivity associated with psychedelic experiences.

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“…Even with this ongoing question of the relationship between mystical and spiritual experience, ASCs, and psychedelic assisted psychotherapy, it is at least possible that ketamine, when prescribed at subanesthetic doses, offers a unique experiential therapeutic opportunity for TRD subjects. Becker ( 164 ) theorized that ketamine's psychological benefit and sustained effects may be exponentially enhanced due to its induction of a brief transformational state of consciousness and the consequent opportunity for psychotherapy to be more efficient. Wolfson ( 23 ) concurred and stressed that “ketamine assisted psychotherapy's value is inextricably linked with the psychedelic experience that ketamine induces” (p. 37).…”

Section: Therapeutic Effects Of Ketaminementioning

confidence: 99%

An Integrative Approach to Ketamine Therapy May Enhance Multiple Dimensions of Efficacy: Improving Therapeutic Outcomes With Treatment Resistant Depression

et al. 2021

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Research over the last two decades has established ketamine as a safe, effective, fast-acting, and sustained antidepressant that significantly reduces adverse symptoms associated with depression, even in patients who are treatment resistant. Much of this research has evolved within the framework of several independent branches of scientific inquiry: in addition to the study of ketamine is a non-selective NMDAR antagonist with rapid antidepressant effects, it has also been found effective as a psychoplastogen that stimulates synaptogenesis and increases neuroplasticity, as a powerful anti-inflammatory that may improve inflammation-related depressive symptoms, as a substance that induces beneficial high entropy brain states, and as a subjectively impactful psychedelic agent. Each branch of inquiry has generated independent evidence of ketamine's efficacy but has advanced without substantive coordination or communication with other lines of inquiry. Integrative research that considers these branches of research together may lead toward a better understanding of ketamine's effects and improved treatment protocols and clinical outcomes. Such an overview can inform more comprehensive patient care through: (a) informed patient psychoeducation that encompasses all of ketamine's mechanisms of action; (b) calibration of optimal dosage to ensure induction and maintenance of high entropy brain states during each ketamine session utilizing EEG measurement; (c) Improved management of emergence side effects through proper care for set and setting; (d) inclusion of pre-selected appropriate music to enhance the emotional experience; (e) increased monitoring of ketamine effects on cortical activity, inter-hemispheric imbalance, and inflammation-related levels of cytokines to further improvements in ketamine protocols; and (f) appropriate timing of any adjunctive psychotherapy sessions to coincide with peak neurogenesis at 24–48 h post ketamine treatment.

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Regarding the Transpersonal Nature of Ketamine Therapy: An Approach to the Work

Cited by 7 publications

References 13 publications

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature

Optimized Clinical Strategies for Treatment-Resistant Depression: Integrating Ketamine Protocols with Trauma- and Attachment-Informed Psychotherapy

An Integrative Approach to Ketamine Therapy May Enhance Multiple Dimensions of Efficacy: Improving Therapeutic Outcomes With Treatment Resistant Depression

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