Ketamine Treatment for PTSD
How Does Ketamine Help with PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has a devastating impact on people of all ages, including about 8% of adults and 11-20% of veterans. Therapy and traditional medications have positive effects on symptoms in patients but do not always provide rapid or long-term relief.
However, ketamine has been proven to quickly and effectively relieve symptoms when other treatments have failed. The professionals at Ketamine Wellness Infusions PA work with physicians of patients with PTSD to find the best treatment options.
If you’re a resident in the Philadelphia area suffering from PTSD, ketamine therapy is a viable treatment option.
What is PTSD
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that occurs in patients who have experienced and/or witnessed a traumatic event. It is commonly associated with veterans but also appears in patients who have experienced or witnessed other traumatic events such as sexual assault, terrorism, natural disasters, and serious injuries.
Patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder undergo symptoms of avoidance, flashbacks, intrusive memories, physical and emotional reactions, and negative changes to their mood and/or thinking. Triggers for these symptoms are typically associated with stress or general reminders of the event.
PTSD may also increase the risk of other mental health problems like substance abuse, depression, and/or anxiety. Many of the symptoms associated with PTSD like hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness, trouble sleeping or intense feelings of guilt and shame are also associated with other major depressive disorders.
Symptoms of PTSD can intensify over time and affect men, women, and children differently. Feeling depressed and anxious are symptoms more commonly found in women than in men. Women are also less likely to have drug and alcohol abuse issues than men after diagnosis.
Traditional Treatment Options
Traditional treatment options for post-traumatic stress disorder include cognitive behavioral therapy and medication.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is used to alter the negative patterns in thinking about a patients’ self and how they perceive the world. There are three common CBT treatment options for patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): Teaches patients to modify and challenge negative beliefs
- related to their trauma.
- Cognitive Therapy: Modifies negative evaluations and memories associated with trauma.
- Prolonged Exposure: Teaches patients to slowly accept memories related to traumatic events, situations, and/or feelings. Ultimately desensitizes patients to what triggers their trauma.
Cognitive-behavioral therapies in conjunction with anti-depressants can have positive effects on patients with PTSD but can have severe side effects. Although they are long-term solutions, they do not assist in diminishing symptoms as quickly as and effectively ketamine therapy.
Ketamine Treatment Options for PTSD
Patients have different experiences responding to traditional PTSD treatments. Side effects of antidepressants can include nausea and trouble sleeping. Cognitive-behavioral therapy alone can take months to alleviate symptoms. Ketamine may quickly and effectively relieve symptoms of PTSD when other treatments have failed.
At high doses, ketamine is a safe anesthetic. When given at low doses, however, ketamine improves the symptoms caused by a variety of mental health disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
Ketamine balances the levels of glutamate, a brain chemical directly involved in psychological symptoms. The medication also restores connectivity between neurons. Ketamine can work rapidly, often improving symptoms within hours by directly targeting the brain. Treatments can also help patients work through their CBT sessions more effectively. Improvements in symptoms are also maintained weeks after treatment.
Most patients experience positive effects from their ketamine treatment within 24-hours. The duration of therapeutic effects varies from 1- to 6 months. Once you complete the initial series of ketamine infusions, we will speak to your physician about your treatment and the progress you achieved.
Reach Out for a Consultation Today
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can develop and intensify over time. While patients may experience relief in symptoms through traditional treatments, ketamine therapy works more rapidly and has longer-lasting effects when used in conjunction with cognitive-behavioral therapy.
If you’re struggling with symptoms of PTSD, take control of your life. Reach out to the professionals at Ketamine Wellness Centers PA. We’re looking forward to helping patients in the Philadelphia, Doylestown, and Bala Cynwyd areas achieve better days ahead.
