Supervised use of ketamine, a Schedule III substance, is allowed case-by-case in mental health treatment, although it is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration, off-label. What is FDA-approved, however, is esketamine, a close relative of ketamine that has shown promise in treating depression that isn’t responding to the usual treatment methods including therapy and medication. This is not surprising, as there is substantial evidence of ketamine’s therapeutic effects, with early studies linking its use to relief in depression symptoms.

More recently, ketamine is being studied for its therapeutic effects beyond depression. A study published in Ibrain suggests that ketamine could be beneficial in treating post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in patients who have failed to respond to traditional treatments such as talk therapy and psychiatric medications. Animal research, clinical trials, and case reports have shown significant reductions in PTSD-related symptoms and rapid antidepressant effects.

However, the same study also raises concerns over the long-term efficacy and safety of the drug, particularly in light of its effects on the nervous system.

Another recent........

© Psychology Today