This unregistered trial (n=59) was an evaluator-blind, randomised controlled trial of multiple versus single ketamine-assisted psychotherapy sessions for heroin dependence in detoxified adults, which found that repeated sessions significantly improved long-term abstinence rates.
This synthetic trial has been added to our database because a psychedelic paper (about a clinical trial) references this trial, but no (live) registration can be found.
The study investigated whether repeated sessions of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KPT) provided greater benefits for heroin abstinence compared to a single session. Following inpatient detoxification, 59 participants were randomised to receive either three ketamine sessions (2.0 mg/kg IM) spaced one month apart with psychotherapy, or a single ketamine session followed by monthly addiction counselling.
At the twelve-month follow-up, survival analysis indicated that the multiple KPT group achieved a significantly higher rate of abstinence (50%) compared to the single KPT group (22.2%). While abstinence rates were improved, no significant differences were observed between the groups regarding depression, anxiety, heroin craving, or sense of purpose in life.
Three ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KPT) sessions with one-month intervals, plus addiction counseling sessions before the second and third KPT sessions.
Sessions were 1.5 to 2 hours long; accompanied by psychotherapy.
One ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KPT) session followed by two addiction counseling sessions at one-month intervals.
Session was 1.5 to 2 hours long; accompanied by psychotherapy.