Researchers at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI) at the University of Utah (USA) are conducting a clinical trial testing a new form of psychotherapy for people diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Such patients may experience severe psychological distress after being diagnosed.
This form of therapy combines the use of the anesthetic ketamine with talk therapy to help people suffering from existential anxiety, a condition in which a person experiences deep emotional discomfort associated with the awareness of one's own mortality, the loss of meaning in life, and a reevaluation of one's values and goals. Traditional mental health treatments may not always fully meet the needs of such patients.
Researchers at the Huntsman Institute's Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Clinic hope their unique combination of a psychedelic drug and psychotherapy can ease the suffering of patients faced with an inoperable cancer diagnosis. Ketamine is a medical drug that has anesthetic, anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects. Ketamine can also induce an altered state of consciousness in which a person can experience a variety of psychedelic effects, such as hallucinations, a dissolution of the boundary between oneself and the world around, and a sense of unity and love. Researchers believe that ketamine can help patients overcome their fears, trauma, guilt, and shame, and open up new perspectives and possibilities for their lives.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy consists of several stages. First, the patient undergoes a preliminary assessment and consultation with a psychotherapist who explains the purpose, risks and expectations of the therapy. The patient then receives an injection of ketamine under the supervision of medical staff and spends a two-hour session with a psychotherapist who supports him during the psychedelic experience and helps him interpret and integrate it into his life. After the session, the patient remains in the clinic under observation until all the side effects of ketamine are gone. Then the patient undergoes a post-session consultation with a psychotherapist, who discusses with him his impressions, feelings and conclusions from the therapy. A patient may undergo several sessions of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy depending on their individual needs and goals.
Patients diagnosed with inoperable cancer of the gastrointestinal tract participate in this clinical trial. Researchers are studying the effectiveness and safety of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy compared with conventional psychotherapy and placebo. They also study the effects of therapy on quality of life, symptoms of depression and anxiety, levels of existential distress and hope for treatment in patients.
Although the clinical trial is still ongoing, scientists have already noticed several benefits of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for their patients. These include improved mood, reduced anxiety, changes in perspective, greater flexibility and openness, a sense of connection or oneness with others, improved relationships, and even spiritual experiences. Many patients find that the combination of these elements leads to beneficial changes and helps them address the deep existential questions that often arise from a life-threatening diagnosis.
The researchers hope that their research can contribute to the development of new and effective methods of psychological support for cancer patients.
According to the materials www.newswise.com
The Expio Center is the first and only medical institution in Ukraine that legally uses ketamine psychedelic psychotherapy since 2018.