A systematic review of studies published through 2025 suggests that ketamine combined with psychotherapy may be effective in treating various psychiatric disorders—including depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder—but the additional benefits of psychotherapy require further study.
The combination of ketamine and psychotherapy—known as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP)—has been used since the 1970s to treat various psychiatric disorders. This approach seeks to combine the rapid pharmacological effects of ketamine with the structured framework of psychotherapy, reflecting the evolution of various therapeutic models over the past few decades.
Why is ketamine gaining prominence in mental health?
Interest in this strategy has been growing, primarily due to ketamine’s ability to induce rapid improvements in conditions such as major depression and treatment-resistant depression. In addition to symptom reduction, some studies also point to greater patient engagement in the therapeutic process, as well as increased emotional openness and willingness to participate in psychotherapy.
What does the available scientific evidence show?
Despite this potential, scientific evidence regarding the mechanisms of action and the best way to integrate psychotherapy remains limited. A recent systematic review, published in March on the ScienceDirect platform and conducted primarily by researchers from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, with the participation of researchers from the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, analyzed 64 articles—corresponding to 72 studies—that combined ketamine with different psychotherapeutic approaches.
The results suggest that this approach may be effective for various conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance-use disorders. Overall, the combination of ketamine and psychotherapy appears to contribute to greater treatment adherence, symptom reduction, and, in some cases, more lasting therapeutic effects.
Does psychotherapy add benefits to ketamine treatment?
Across the board, the studies analyzed point to some common elements in the interventions, namely patient preparation, clinical supervision during sessions, and the subsequent integration of the experience. Nevertheless, the authors emphasize that further studies are needed to clarify the role of psychotherapy and identify the most effective therapeutic models.
Learn more about The Clinic of Change’s psychedelic-assisted programs and treatments HERE.
