There are many treatments and therapies for depression and PTSD available – the most important part of treatment is finding the right one for you.
Ketamine as a depression or trauma treatment blocks the NMDA receptor instead of inhibiting the uptake of serotonin/norepinephrine/dopamine, as most antidepressants currently on the market are designed to do. By blocking this receptor, ketamine allows the brain to begin repairing itself and regulate the chemicals in the brain that cause depression. It can also help expand one’s own emotional depth and awareness, pulling down internal barriers, which can be integral in the psychotherapeutic treatment of trauma. In addition, concurrent symptoms of chronic pain and resistant depression often seen in trauma disorders, have exhibited relief as per a recent published review of clinical evidence.
For 70-80% of patients treated, ketamine treatments provide a break from debilitating symptoms of depression within 24 hours of a ketamine treatment, but it is not a permanent cure. These breaks last different lengths of time for each individual and can range from a day to months at a time. Booster treatments can be given to extend the relief from depression symptoms. In the setting of trauma treatment, ketamine infusions can be used to maximize targeted trauma therapies.