This study looked at whether ketamine could help people struggling with long-term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Thirty participants received either six ketamine infusions or a placebo over two weeks. The results were striking—about two-thirds of those who received ketamine had a major reduction in their PTSD symptoms, compared to only one in five in the placebo group. On average, improvements lasted close to a month after treatment. Ketamine was also found to be safe and well-tolerated.
This is the first controlled trial showing that repeated ketamine treatments can bring meaningful relief for people living with chronic PTSD, though more research is needed to figure out how to make the benefits last longer.