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Ketamine services offered in Cordova and Greater Tennessee , Greater Tennessee, TN
Ketamine may bring welcome and quick-acting relief from treatment-resistant depression. John Redmond, MSN, APN, PMHNP-BC, and Chelsey Dixon, LCSW, at WellMind Behavioral Health & Wellness in Cordova, Tennessee, tailor mental health treatment strategies to meet your needs. Their evidence-based services include ketamine infusion therapy for depression not responding to traditional antidepressant medication. Schedule an evaluation today for personalized care delivered in a welcoming environment. Call the office or use their secure online service to request an appointment.
Ketamine Q & A
Why would you use ketamine for depression?
Ketamine was initially designed as a general anesthetic used during surgery and other medical procedures. Yale School of Medicine researchers began considering sub-anesthetic doses of ketamine for relieving depression in the late 1990s. The FDA has since cleared ketamine as a viable alternative to traditional antidepressants.
Your WellMind Behavioral Health & Wellness provider may recommend ketamine intravenous (IV) infusion therapy for patients who have not responded adequately to standard antidepressant medicines. Ketamine, delivered via IV under clinical supervision, acts very quickly. Unlike oral medications, which can take weeks to produce results, ketamine offers depression relief within hours of an infusion.
Unfortunately, depending on the type of depression you’re experiencing, the effects of a single infusion typically last from one to two weeks and as little as three to four days. You may require several treatments weekly for four to six weeks to gain full benefits. However, repeated ketamine infusions appear to stimulate new neural pathways within the brain that may help protect against future episodes of depression.
What types of depression can you treat with ketamine?
At WellMind Behavioral Health & Wellness, ketamine infusions have produced significant clinical relief for patients experiencing major depressive disorder (unipolar depression) and bipolar depression. It’s also effective in treating depression related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive (OCD). Depression related to various anxiety disorders may also respond well to ketamine.
Ketamine’s fast action also makes it an effective tool in treating suicidal ideation occurring independently of depressive disorders. For instance, individuals struggling with substance abuse often experience suicidal ideation or plans of self-harm. Ketamine delivered in the emergency room can temporarily block these thoughts. This action allows you time to seek additional substance abuse treatment, which may include ongoing ketamine infusions.
Do you continue other treatments while undergoing ketamine infusions?
The WellMind Behavioral Health & Wellness team does not recommend ketamine as a stand-alone therapy for depression. Instead, they utilize ketamine to help reduce depressive symptoms as you undergo comprehensive treatment.
For instance, your personalized care plan may include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). This type of psychotherapy focuses on identifying thought patterns and behaviors contributing to your depressed mood and developing responses to counter their effects. Managing depression during your treatment course can help motivate you to succeed.
Schedule a visit today by calling WellMind Behavioral Health & Wellness or requesting an appointment online.