A retrospective analysis of ketamine intravenous therapy for PTSD in real-world care settings

Ketamine Intravenous Therapy (KIT) shows promise for PTSD treatment, but its effectiveness in real-world settings remains understudied. Here, we analyze treatment outcomes using Osmind's EHR database of patients receiving KIT for PTSD.

From a total population of 8,142 PTSD patients, we focus on 1,306 individuals with complete baseline and post-treatment PCL-5 scores, examining the longitudinal patterns of symptom improvement. Our analysis reveals statistically significant reductions in PCL-5 scores after KIT administration. Patients show an average decrease of 18.6 points from baseline (approximately 47) to post-fourth infusion (approximately 27).

Response rates, defined as ≥30% reduction from baseline PCL-5, demonstrate a clear progression, starting at 27% after the first infusion and reaching 70% by the sixth infusion. Most patients (82%) completed four infusions within 28 days, with treatment protocols stabilizing at a mean dose of 1.0 mg/kg by the sixth infusion.

The study population was predominantly Caucasian (94%) and female (66%), with a mean age of 42.3 years, and a high rate of comorbid Major Depressive Disorder (90%). While our findings support KIT's potential effectiveness for treatment-resistant PTSD, particularly with MDD comorbidity, the selective nature of our sample (16.5% with complete outcome data) and demographic composition warrant further investigation with more diverse populations.