STAT+: Can a psychedelic ‘coach’ make ketamine therapy even more effective?
Why it matters: A new clinical trial at Massachusetts General Hospital aims to define the optimal use of ketamine therapy.
- Ketamine treatment clinics have proliferated since the FDA approved the drug for acute depression in 2019, leading to an unregulated expansion of access.
- Providers are divided on whether ketamine should be used strictly as a pharmacological intervention or if psychotherapy should be incorporated.
- Studies show ketamine alone can reduce depressive symptoms and suicidality within hours, but some researchers suspect this approach might miss additional benefits.
- A group of scientists announced a clinical trial at Massachusetts General Hospital to determine the exact benefits of ketamine and its associated 'trip' when combined with support.
Ketamine clinics have rapidly expanded since FDA approval in 2019, creating a debate among providers on whether the drug should be a standalone pharmacological treatment or integrated with psychological support. While studies confirm ketamine's rapid effect on depressive symptoms alone, some researchers believe combining it with therapy could unlock greater benefits, prompting a new clinical trial at Massachusetts General Hospital to investigate this potential.
