Depression

How do Ketamine Infusions Treat Depression?

Depression can arise from diverse triggers, both internal and external. Some patients may have an underlying genetic susceptibility. Other patients may have medical conditions that exacerbate their depression. Some patients may not be able to control their depression with medications and psychotherapy. Ketamine infusions and medication augmented psychotherapy offer a breakthrough treatment for treatment-resistant depression.

1. Genetic susceptibility to depression
2. Medical conditions that cause or exacerbate depression
3. Environmental triggers (death, separation, personal or financial hardship, etc.) can cause or worsen depression
4. Medications can influence depressive symptoms, such as medications that interrupt sleep

Ketamine modifies serotonin, norepinephrine, and glutamate levels

While depression has many causes, there are underlying biochemical and psychological disturbances that limit your ability to recognize cognitive barriers and rigidities to re-engaging with yourself.

Unlike traditional anti-depressants, ketamine is a powerful NMDA and glutamate receptor antagonist. This can re-shift the biochemical balance in your brain to help restore your inner healing potential. Traditional anti-depressants simply don't have this same effect.

Medication augmented hypnotherapy disinhibits your frontal cortex, allowing you to interact with your therapist, and yourself, differently. This can also help you uncover your hidden healing potential to overcome your depression.

Both techniques are performed with your therapist with the goal of achieving lasting relief. Many patients are able to reduce medication requirements while others are able to live medication-free after their sessions are complete.

• Immediate relief from depression allows for psychotherapy to address root causes of depression
• The "reboot" of the central nervous system allows for neural connectivity to re-wire itself with a fresh start
• To achieve lasting relief, ketamine infusions should be integrated with psychotherapy

Depression as a consequence of cognitive rigidity

Cognitive rigidity underlies many psychiatric conditions and personality traits, including compulsivity (OCD), eating disorders, and trichotillomania. It's not an unwillingness to change, but it's a neurochemical inertia that can make changing habits and routines incredibly difficult. Ketamine and medication assisted hypnotherapy can help restructure rigid cognitive loops through neuroplasticity - literally helping re-wire rigid neurological habit loops. This can play a major role in depression, in particular when chronic pain is also present. These benefits can similarly help symptoms of bipolar depression. Read more about using ketamine as part of a holistic depression treatment plan.

Safety of Ketamine Infusions

Ketamine infusions are safe when directed under a trained physician. This is also true in older adults. Learn what to look for in a ketamine clinic when searching in the Bay Area.

Infusions allow for faster action

Unlike oral dosing, IV infusion rates can be modified instantaneously to allow for more rapid therapeutic effect. There is no need to wait for the effect of a pill to decide if the next pill dose should be changed a week later. Learn more about the benefits of IV ketamine in Dr. Kaveh's article.