NBC News (1/4, Dunn, Snow) reports on the growing number of “ketamine clinics, which offer the drug off-label as either an infusion or an injection for a wide variety of mental health problems.” Because ketamine “has FDA approval, any doctor can prescribe it off-label.” Smita Das, MD, PhD, MPH, Chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s Council on Addiction Psychiatry, stated, “The concern with these clinics’ popping up is that people are getting treatments that haven’t been well-proven, well-studied or following any guidelines.” Dr. Das added, “My concern is that people who need treatment will spend their money and energy in these ketamine clinics that aren’t well-proven.” To date, “only a few small studies have looked at its benefits for other mental health conditions beyond treatment-resistant depression, and the American Psychiatric Association doesn’t provide specific guidelines for its use.”
Related Links:
— “Ketamine clinics for mental health are popping up across the U.S. Does the treatment work? “Lauren Dunn and Kate Snow, NBC News, January 4, 2023