Ketamine-augmented psychotherapy to treat anxiety disorders

People who have an anxiety disorder often suffer from permanent worries and fears. These fears affect many everyday situations. They range from threats, such as a possible break-ins, to less dire events, such as a lost wallet. Anxiety disorders can also cause sufferers to feel anxious about their worrying. This permanent anxiety severely limits quality of life and can significantly impact the everyday life of affected individuals. (1) There are various treatment options available to treat an anxiety disorder. On this page, we would like to specifically discuss treatment with ketamine therapy.

We have compiled more information about Generalized Anxiety Disorder. You can read more about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options here.

There are multiple treatment options for anxiety disorders. On this page, we would like to specifically explain the treatment with ketamine therapy.

When one or more psychotherapies or pharmacotherapies have not shown sufficient therapeutic success, Augmented Psychotherapy may be a treatment option. The integration of experiences in altered states of consciousness represents a new treatment option. We also take advantage of the antidepressant effects of ketamine. You will find more information on this on the following page.

The use of ketamine harnesses both ketamine’s direct effects on depressive symptoms and its ability to enhance neuroplasticity – optimal both for psychotherapy and for the process of change. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize and change. Augmented Psychotherapy is well suited for launching a renewed, long-term therapeutic process. In some circumstances, important memories and insights emerge in altered states of consciousness which can be helpful in the long-term treatment of anxiety.

Often anxiety disorders are accompanied by depressive symptoms. If pharmacotherapy with antidepressants or a course of psychotherapy have not been effective enough, Augmented Psychotherapy and ketamine therapy can be a treatment option. The direct antidepressant effect of ketamine makes psychotherapeutic work and change possible, with a diminished burden from depressive symptoms.