Ketamine Therapy | PTSD, Trauma & Treatment-Resistant Depression

If you're considering ketamine therapy, please talk to Dr. Allen to discuss whether this treatment approach might be appropriate for your situation. Call (385) 504-1334 or schedule an appointment online to speak with Dr. Allen about ketamine treatment.

What Is Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine therapy works differently from traditional antidepressants by targeting the brain's glutamate system rather than serotonin or norepinephrine pathways. Research shows varying levels of evidence across conditions:

• PTSD/Trauma: Research shows the strongest evidence for ketamine in treating PTSD and trauma-related conditions.
• Depression: Well-established evidence for treatment-resistant depression.
• Anxiety: Somewhat successful, with emerging research support.
• Multiple Conditions: Research indicates treatment can be particularly successful when multiple conditions are present together.

Important: There is currently no clinical research demonstrating ketamine's effectiveness for ADHD. Ketamine is not a treatment option for ADHD. Ketamine therapy is not appropriate for everyone and requires a thorough evaluation by Dr. Allen.

Who Might Consider Ketamine Therapy?

You may want to discuss ketamine therapy with Dr. Allen if you:

• Have PTSD or trauma-related symptoms (strongest research evidence)
• Have treatment-resistant depression (well-established evidence)
• Have anxiety disorders that haven't responded to traditional treatments (emerging evidence)
• Experience multiple co-occurring conditions (research shows particular promise)
• Have tried multiple medications without sufficient improvement

Important: There is no clinical research demonstrating ketamine's effectiveness for ADHD. Ketamine is not a treatment option for ADHD. If you have ADHD, Dr. Allen can discuss appropriate ADHD treatment options with you.

Dr. Allen will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine if ketamine therapy or other treatment approaches might be suitable for your specific situation.

What to Expect

If you're considering ketamine therapy, Dr. Allen will discuss your mental health history, previous treatments, current symptoms, medical history, and treatment goals during your consultation. He will explain all available treatment options, including ketamine therapy, and help you understand whether it might be appropriate for your situation.

No treatment decisions are made during the initial consultation. This is an opportunity to gather information and explore your options with Dr. Allen.

Safety Considerations

Ketamine therapy is generally safe when administered by qualified medical professionals in a controlled setting. However, like all medical treatments, it has considerations and potential side effects. Dr. Allen will conduct a thorough medical evaluation to determine if ketamine therapy is safe and appropriate for you.

Common side effects during treatment may include mild dissociation, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, or temporary changes in blood pressure. These typically subside within hours after treatment.

Insurance & Financial Considerations

Coverage for ketamine therapy varies by insurance plan. Some Utah insurance plans cover ketamine therapy for certain diagnoses, while others may require prior authorization or may not provide coverage. We recommend contacting your insurance provider and calling our office at (385) 504-1334 to discuss payment options and insurance questions.

Research & Resources

Research evidence varies by condition. PTSD/Trauma shows the strongest evidence, Depression shows well-established evidence, and Anxiety shows emerging evidence. Treatment may be particularly successful when multiple conditions are present. Individual results vary, and Dr. Allen will help you understand how this research applies to your specific situation.

PTSD & Trauma (Strongest Evidence)

• University of Florida 2025 Study (opens in new tab) - Published in European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation
• Nature: Neural changes with ketamine for PTSD (2023) (opens in new tab)
• PMC: Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis (2024) (opens in new tab)
• Journal of Clinical Psychiatry: Ketamine + Psychotherapy (2025) (opens in new tab)

Depression (Well-Established Evidence)

• Esketamine (Spravato) received FDA approval in 2019 for treatment-resistant depression. Note: This refers to esketamine/Spravato specifically, not ketamine therapy in general. This information is provided for educational purposes only.
• Multiple randomized controlled trials demonstrating response rates in treatment-resistant cases
• Clinical trials evaluating ketamine and esketamine for depression treatment
• JAMA Psychiatry: Consensus Statement on Ketamine in Treatment of Mood Disorders (opens in new tab)

Anxiety Disorders (Emerging Evidence)

• Yale: RCT for Social Anxiety (opens in new tab) - Randomized, placebo-controlled trial
• Frontiers: Meta-Analysis on Anxiety (2022) (opens in new tab)
• PMC: Systematic Review - Refractory Anxiety (2022) (opens in new tab)

General Mental Health Resources

• National Institute of Mental Health: Mental Health Medications (opens in new tab) - General information about mental health medications
• American Psychiatric Association: What Is Depression? (opens in new tab) - Educational resource about depression

Related Services

Ketamine therapy is part of our comprehensive approach to mental health treatment. We also offer:

• Depression Treatment - Comprehensive evaluation and medication management
• Anxiety Treatment - Evidence-based anxiety care
• PTSD Treatment - Trauma-informed psychiatric care
• ADHD Evaluation & Treatment - Comprehensive ADHD care
• Telepsychiatry - Convenient online psychiatric care