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Ketamine, often associated with its use as a recreational drug that can lead to serious health complications and even fatalities, is gaining attention in Scotland for its potential in treating severe depression. A psychiatrist from NHS Lothian is aiming to establish a clinic by the end of the year that would offer ketamine as an alternative to electroconvulsive therapy for patients with challenging depression cases. Professor Andrew McIntosh believes that ketamine could provide another option for individuals who have not responded well to traditional treatments.
Last summer, a private clinic in Lanarkshire, the Eulas clinic, commenced offering ketamine assisted therapy to individuals with treatment-resistant depression. The clinic, operating under a license from Healthcare Improvement Scotland, offers a treatment package that includes four intravenous ketamine infusions and psychotherapy for £6,000. While ketamine is primarily an anaesthetic and not licensed for routine depression treatment, doctors and psychiatrists can use it ‘off-label’.
One patient, Alex, shared her experience with ketamine therapy, highlighting the positive impact it had on her mental health. She noted the psychedelic effects of the treatment and how it enhanced her receptiveness to psychotherapy. Sean Gillen, the director of the Eulas clinic, emphasized the importance of proper diagnosis and assessment by a psychiatrist before commencing ketamine treatment. He acknowledged that the cost of such therapy may be prohibitive for many and expressed the desire for NHS availability.
The potential of ketamine in treating depression is being explored by Andrew McIntosh, who aims to establish a ketamine clinic at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Although the exact mechanisms of ketamine’s effectiveness in treating depression are not fully understood, its controlled use in clinical settings differs significantly from its recreational use. While challenges such as cost and patient safety need to be carefully managed, the interest in ketamine therapy as an alternative to traditional treatments for depression continues to grow
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