Ketamine Treatment for Mental Health
- Pine Ridge Mental Healthcare
- Jan 24
- 3 min read
Ketamine treatment is a medically supervised option for depression, anxiety, and PTSD that works differently from traditional antidepressants. Pine Ridge Mental Healthcare provides structured ketamine therapy using evidence-based protocols to ensure safety, appropriateness, and continuity of care.
What Is Ketamine Treatment?
Ketamine is a medication originally used in anesthesia that, at low doses, has been shown to rapidly reduce symptoms of certain mental health conditions. Unlike traditional antidepressants that target serotonin, ketamine works on the brain’s glutamate system, supporting neuroplasticity and new neural connections.
Because of this unique mechanism, ketamine may help patients who have not responded to standard treatments.
At Pine Ridge Mental Healthcare, ketamine is offered only after a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation confirms that treatment is clinically appropriate.
How Ketamine Works in the Brain
Ketamine acts on NMDA receptors involved in glutamate signaling. This can lead to:
Faster symptom improvement than traditional antidepressants
Increased neuroplasticity
Potential relief within hours to days rather than weeks
This mechanism makes ketamine especially relevant for treatment-resistant depression and severe mood symptoms.
What Conditions Can Ketamine Treat?
Ketamine therapy may be considered for:
Treatment-resistant depression
Major depressive disorder
Anxiety disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Each patient’s eligibility is evaluated individually at Pine Ridge Mental Healthcare, with safety as the primary consideration.
What to Expect During Ketamine Treatment
Step 1: Comprehensive Evaluation
Patients undergo a full psychiatric assessment, including:
Mental health history
Medication history
Medical risk factors
Treatment goals
Step 2: Treatment Selection
Depending on age, medical history, and insurance considerations, ketamine may be offered through:
In-office monitored treatment
Structured at-home protocols (when clinically appropriate)
Step 3: Ongoing Monitoring
Patients are monitored throughout treatment, with adjustments made based on response, tolerability, and safety.
Ketamine vs. Spravato® (Esketamine)
While related, ketamine and Spravato are not the same.
Ketamine Therapy
Off-label use for mental health
May be administered in office or at home
Requires structured provider oversight
Spravato® (Esketamine)
FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression
Administered in-office only
Required for patients with Medicaid
Often recommended for patients over 65 or with significant medical conditions
Pine Ridge Mental Healthcare offers both options and helps determine the safest and most appropriate choice for each patient.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Ketamine Therapy?
Patients may be good candidates if they:
Have not responded to traditional antidepressants
Can follow structured treatment protocols
Do not have uncontrolled medical conditions
Ketamine may not be appropriate for everyone. Alternative treatments, including Spravato or traditional medication management, may be recommended instead.
Safety and Oversight
Ketamine treatment at Pine Ridge Mental Healthcare emphasizes:
Careful screening
Medical appropriateness
Ongoing provider involvement
Clear treatment boundaries
Patient safety and ethical prescribing guide every step of care.
Why Patients Choose Pine Ridge Mental Healthcare
Patients choose Pine Ridge Mental Healthcare for ketamine treatment because of:
Psychiatric-led evaluations
Structured protocols
Emphasis on safety and continuity
Transparent communication about treatment options
Ketamine is never offered as a “quick fix,” but as part of a comprehensive mental health treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How fast does ketamine work?Some patients report improvement within hours or days, though responses vary.
Is ketamine FDA-approved for depression?Ketamine itself is used off-label. Spravato® (esketamine) is FDA-approved.
Is ketamine safe?When prescribed and monitored appropriately, ketamine can be safe. This is why evaluation and oversight are essential.
Intrested in our other articles on Ketamine and Spravato? Click below!
Treatment For Long-Term Success
At Pine Ridge Mental Healthcare, we’ve found success using a variety of approaches to major depressive disorder. Discussing these approaches with a trusted provider is the first and most important step. Getting your depression under control is a key to improving how you feel.
Our mental health team works to reduce your reliance on medications by educating you about the different tools available and how life situations can affect your mood. In addition, we help keep you on track with regular check-ins to monitor how you are doing.
For help managing your health, schedule an appointment online or over the phone at Pine Ridge Mental Healthcare in Owasso, Oklahoma. If you are interested in other services we provide, check out our services page.
This content was written and reviewed by Pine Ridge Mental Healthcare, an outpatient psychiatry clinic in Oklahoma. Treatment decisions are made by licensed psychiatric providers based on individual evaluation.
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