For many living with depression, anxiety or trauma-related conditions, traditional treatment such as antidepressant medication and talking therapy can be life-changing. However, not everyone finds relief. Around one-third of people with major depressive disorders experience what’s known as treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This is where the symptoms persist despite multiple courses of antidepressant medication or psychotherapy.
That’s where ketamine therapy comes in, emerging as a promising option for those who haven’t responded to standard approaches. While widely known as an anaesthetic, ketamine is now being used in controlled and clinical settings to alleviate symptoms of depression and other mental health concerns. At Eulas, ketamine-assisted therapy is offered under medical supervision as part of a holistic and evidence-based approach to mental health. In this article, we reveal more about it.
Common Conditions treated with ketamine therapy
Treatment-resistant depression
Ketamine is best known for its use in treatment-resistant depression because of its ability to produce a rapid improvement in mood. In some instances, patients even report benefits within a few hours of an infusion. This can be especially great for those who have tried multiple medications without success.
Major depressive disorder with suicidal ideation
For those experiencing severe depressive episodes with suicidal thoughts, ketamine can reduce these ideas more quickly compared to traditional medication. This is often used in crisis intervention situations as it creates a space for safety, reflection and therapeutic engagement.
PTSD, OCD and anxiety disorders
Studies show that ketamine can also help with those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder. This is because the ketamine influences glutamate signalling and neuroplasticity and can help to reset overactive neural circuits in the brain which are often associated with fear and hyperarousal.
Substance use disorders
While research is still in its infancy, early studies suggest that ketamine can play a role in reducing cravings and relapse rates with regards to alcohol and substance use. This offers a glimmer of hope for individuals struggling with addiction and combined mental health disorders.
How ketamine works differently from traditional treatments
Unlike SSRIs and SNRIs, two types of antidepressants, ketamine acts on the brain’s glutamate system and blocks the NMDA receptor. This triggers a series of neurochemical changes in the brain that increases the release of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor and promotes neuroplasticity. In short, this is the brain’s ability to create new neural connections.
This mechanism then helps ketamine to have rapid effects, often within a few hours. In contrast, standard medicine can take a few weeks to take full effect. Many clinicians in favour of ketamine therapy describe it as opening a therapeutic window because it allows for a period when symptoms ease and individuals can engage more effectively with psychotherapy or lifestyle changes that support long-term recovery.