Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy for Treating Comorbid Chronic Pain and PTSD
Open-label, randomised, parallel pilot RCT (n=30) comparing ketamine (0.5 mg/kg IV x4 over 2 weeks) plus MBCT versus MBCT alone for adults with comorbid chronic pain and PTSD.
Details
This pilot randomised parallel-group trial (n=30) will assess feasibility and tolerability of combining brief intravenous ketamine treatment with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) versus MBCT alone in adults with chronic pain and PTSD.
The active arm receives four 40-minute IV ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg) administered twice weekly over two weeks alongside an 8-week MBCT programme; the comparator arm receives MBCT alone (8 weekly 2-hour online sessions and daily home practice).
Primary objectives are feasibility of trial procedures and tolerability of ketamine; outcomes include quality of life, pain, disability, depressive and PTSD symptoms, and safety signals to inform a future full trial.