Clinical Research on Ketamine Therapy
How Research Shapes Ketamine Treatment
Everything we do at Columbia Ketamine Center starts with the evidence. A large and growing body of peer-reviewed studies supports ketamine therapy as a safe and effective option for depression, anxiety and PTSD, as well as chronic pain problems like CRPS and migraine headaches. Our treatment follows that research.
Dr. Bowen’s practice also measures its own results. Patients rated anywhere from extreme to borderline depression completed Beck’s Depression Inventory at each visit. After the initial series of 6 infusions, close to 4 out of 5 of those patients showed a decrease of 30% or more in their scores.
What the Studies Show
Our protocols draw on current findings from university research centers, neuroscience labs and medical journals. Scientists have studied ketamine’s fast antidepressant and pain-relieving effects in depth. The results point to benefits that can arrive quickly and last, even for people who did not improve with standard treatment.
- In 2006, an NIH study became the first to report that ketamine brought rapid improvement in treatment-resistant depression.
- Researchers at Yale University showed that ketamine can help the brain grow new synaptic connections, reversing harm caused by chronic stress and depression.
- Several articles in The American Journal of Psychiatry describe ketamine lowering suicidal thoughts within hours.
- Clinical trials back its use for PTSD, OCD and generalized anxiety disorder, reporting strong response rates and a favorable safety record.
- Newer pain research shows ketamine can modulate NMDA receptors and ease central sensitization, particularly for people living with CRPS or chronic migraine.
Areas of Research We Follow
- Treatment-resistant depression (TRD)
- Generalized anxiety and PTSD
- Suicidal thoughts
- Chronic pain, CRPS and migraines
- Long-term results and maintenance care
Keeping Our Care Current
Our providers follow current clinical standards and stay in touch with ketamine centers and clinicians across the country. As new studies come out, we review them and adjust how we care for patients, so your treatment reflects the newest evidence available.
Questions About the Research?
If you would like to know how these findings relate to your own condition, reach out and book a free consultation. We are glad to walk you through the science that shapes your treatment plan.