Over the past century, treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have rapidly evolved. Clinicians classified OCD as a distinct anxiety disorder in the early 1900s.
Since then, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and antidepressants like tricyclics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have become mainstream therapy. However, this treatment is effective in only 40% to 50% of patients.
New research suggests that medically-supervised ketamine infusion therapy could help a significant proportion of people with OCD get the relief they need.
Ketamine therapy can be a life-changing experience with one infusion. In some trials, ketamine therapy led to an immediate recession in OCD symptoms
Exactly how ketamine treats OCD and other mental health disorders is still under investigation. Recent evidence points to ketamine’s inhibitory effects on the NMDA receptor in the lateral habenula. The lateral habenula is a brain region primarily responsible for encoding negative rewards or anti-reward cause-and-effect relationships. Those with OCD show an abnormal regulation of glutamate. As a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, ketamine prevents glutamate from activating the NMDA receptor.
The inhibition of the NMDA receptor may cause a build-up of free glutamate, which then activates the AMPA receptors. When surplus glutamate activates the AMPA receptor, it releases a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) chemical. BDNF, in interaction with the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), promotes new neural growth. This new growth may reroute the brain from hyperactive areas associated with negative reward signals, thereby providing long-term relief from mental health conditions.
Although OCD symptoms generally fall into one of these five subtypes, it is possible to undergo changes in the nature and focus of OCD symptoms over time.
Obsessions are persistent thoughts, feelings, or images that trigger distress or anxiety. Those with OCD may try to alleviate these thoughts with compulsive behavior. Obsessions often get in the way of your personal goals and daily routines.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that range in elaborateness. Usually, these behaviors are intended to reduce anxiety accompanying obsessive thoughts. However, these compulsions often temporarily relieve anxiety and offer no pleasure in themselves.
Someone with OCD may invent rules or rituals they uphold to control anxiety and obsessive thoughts. These compulsions are usually intricate and do not observably affect the problems they’re intended to fix.
Compulsions usually have themes, including:
You should consider seeking help if you are unable to control your obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors, if they are causing significant distress or disruption in your life, or if you are unable to go about your daily activities as a result of your OCD symptoms. It is important to remember that seeking help is a sign of strength and that treatment can lead to significant improvement.
If you or someone you know is dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and have been unable to get the relief you need utilizing conventional medications and therapies, then you might want to consider ketamine infusion therapy. Contact KetaKlarity to learn more about how ketamine treatment for OCD can help you take back control of your life and your happiness.
