Ketamine therapy: Procedure and complementary therapies
Individual adaptation of ketamine therapy
At the Almas Institute, ketamine therapy is individually tailored to the specific needs of each patient. The selection of complementary therapies used in combination with ketamine therapy depends on the patient's specific clinical picture and current health status. This tailored approach ensures optimal treatment effectiveness.
Definition and use of ketamine
Ketamine has been an established anesthetic for decades, traditionally used for short-term anesthesia during minor surgical procedures and in emergency medicine. More recently, ketamine has proven extremely effective in the treatment of a wide range of psychosomatic illnesses. The Almas Institute specializes in a globally unique combination of ketamine therapy with other therapeutic modalities to achieve rapid and sustained treatment success.
Indications for ketamine therapy
- Treatment of depression
- Treatment-resistant depression
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) / trauma
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Anxiety disorders
- Addictions
- Chronic pain
- Eating disorders
- Alzheimer's / Dementia
In addition, treatment with ketamine infusions can also be beneficial for other conditions such as migraines or burnout. The Almas Institute offers comprehensive consultations to determine the best possible treatment option for each patient. Contact us for further information.
How ketamine works
Ketamine promotes neuroplasticity, which means it increases brain performance and supports the formation of new neural connections. Unlike conventional antidepressants, ketamine takes effect immediately. The effect often occurs during the first infusion and usually reaches its maximum the following day.
The duration of the effect varies: it can range from a few days to several weeks, and in rare cases even months or years. Therefore, multiple infusions are often required, ideally in combination with other treatments such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, or magnetic stimulation. Ketamine can represent a breakthrough, especially for patients who have undergone numerous unsuccessful treatment attempts with various antidepressants. Suicidal thoughts, in particular, disappear, as ketamine is currently the only known antisuicidal substance.
Die genaue Wirkungsweise von Ketamin gegen Depressionen und Suizidgedanken ist noch nicht vollständig geklärt. Ketamin wirkt am NMDA-Rezeptor, doch die Wirkung hält deutlich länger an als die Substanz im Körper verweilt. Nach wenigen Stunden ist Ketamin bereits ausgeschieden, was als “hit and go”-Effekt bezeichnet wird. Im übertragenen Sinne wird eine Tür aufgestoßen, die mit etwas Glück offen bleibt, manchmal jedoch auch langsam wieder zufällt.
Process of ketamine therapy at the Almas Institute
Therapy at the Almas Institute always begins with a detailed initial consultation to gain a comprehensive understanding of the patient's personal situation. This includes taking into account the results of previous treatment attempts, medication use, and any existing or previously treated illnesses.
The detailed medical history is supplemented by psychological diagnostic testing and a quantitative EEG, which provides information about brain function. A medical examination including blood pressure measurement, possibly also an ECG and HRV measurement, is also performed. Depending on the symptoms and the specific questions, a mobile sleep laboratory will be set up for the first night.
Patients are asked to bring any previous medical reports with them to avoid duplicate examinations.
Therapy planning at the Almas Institute
Unlike many other clinics, the Almas Institute always offers ketamine infusions in combination with complementary procedures. Which additional procedures are used in the individual treatment depends on the clinical picture and current findings. Our goal is to ensure long-term therapeutic success.
Interested parties can send us a non-binding inquiry, and we will contact you promptly to discuss the next steps.
Performing a ketamine infusion
During a ketamine infusion, which lasts approximately 40 minutes, the patient lies comfortably on a couch. A small amount of ketamine is administered as an infusion solution through a venous cannula. A therapist sits next to the patient and monitors the entire process.
Many patients experience a feeling of mild intoxication during the infusion, similar to that experienced after excessive alcohol consumption. Other patients suddenly recall events they had completely forgotten. Still others embark on a dream journey or experience mild hallucinations. If unpleasant feelings arise, the therapist can make them disappear immediately by reducing the infusion rate.
Patient's experience report
"I came to the Almas Institute in an acute crisis for treatment of my recurrent moderate to severe depression, after several years of outpatient therapy and medication trials had already yielded no real success. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the team at the Almas Institute saved my life psychologically and gave my children their mother back. As a medical colleague, I can confirm that the work here is absolutely serious and meticulous. The approach of embedding the ketamine infusions in an extremely intensive and patient-centered accompanying psychotherapy, optionally supplemented with other procedures such as rTMS, won me over. After a two-week stay, I was able to leave the clinic virtually free of depression and return directly to my everyday life without long-term medication." – Physician, 42 years old
For some patients, a single ketamine infusion is sufficient to achieve a lasting effect. However, we typically administer three to a maximum of eight infusions, each spaced one or two days apart.