Ketamine Psychedelic Psychotherapy: Focus on Its Pharmacology, Phenomenology, and Clinical Applications Eli Kolp Private Practice
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International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Volume 33 | Issue 2 Article 8 7-1-2014 Ketamine Psychedelic Psychotherapy: Focus on its Pharmacology, Phenomenology, and Clinical Applications Eli Kolp Private Practice Harris L. Friedman University of Florida Evgeny Krupitsky St. Petersburg State Pavlov Medical University Karl Jansen Auckland Hospital Mark Sylvester Private Practice See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudies Part of the Philosophy Commons, Psychiatry and Psychology Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Kolp, E., Friedman, H. L., Krupitsky, E., Jansen, K., Sylvester, M., Young, M. S., & Kolp, A. (2014). Kolp, E., Friedman, H. L., Krupitsky, E., Jansen, K., Sylvester, M., Young, M. S., & Kolp, A. (2014). Ketamine psychedelic psychotherapy: Focus on its pharmacology, phenomenology, and clinical applications. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 33(2), 84–140.. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 33 (2). http://dx.doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2014.33.2.84 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Special Topic Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals and Newsletters at Digital Commons @ CIIS. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Journal of Transpersonal Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ CIIS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Ketamine Psychedelic Psychotherapy: Focus on its Pharmacology, Phenomenology, and Clinical Applications Authors Eli Kolp, Harris L. Friedman, Evgeny Krupitsky, Karl Jansen, Mark Sylvester, M. Scott ounY g, and Anna Kolp This special topic article is available in International Journal of Transpersonal Studies: https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts- transpersonalstudies/vol33/iss2/8 Ketamine Psychedelic Psychotherapy: Focus on its Pharmacology, Phenomenology, and Clinical Applications Eli Kolp Harris L. Friedman Privare Practice University of Florida Sarasota, FL, USA Gainesville, FL, USA Evgeny Krupitsky Karl Jansen St. Petersburg State Pavlov Medical University Auckland Hospital St. Petersburg, Russia Auckland, New Zealand Mark Sylvester M. Scott Young Private Practice University of South Florida Sarasota, FL, USA Tampa, FL, USA Anna Kolp University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA Meant to be an authoritative guide for psychiatrists and others interested in understanding and applying ketamine psychedelic psychotherapy (KPP), this paper focuses on its pharmacology, phenomenology, and clinical applications. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic widely used by physicians and veterinarians in the United States. In addition to its anesthetic and dissociative properties, ketamine also has a multitude of other psychological and pharmacological properties, which include analgesic, sedative, neuroprotective, anxiolytic, antidepressant, stimulant, euphoriant, and hallucinogenic effects. The literature on the clinical application of KPP is comprehensively reviewed, practical advice for using KPP is given, and the pharmacology and phenomenology of ketamine-induced psychedelic experiences are explored, including in relationship to transpersonal healing and possible iatrogenic consequences of misuse of KPP. Keywords: psychedelic, ketamine, psychotherapy, transpersonal, consciousness etamine is an extremely interesting substance, Arylcyclohexylamines: especially from a transpersonal healing perspec- Ketamine’s Family Tree tive, as it not only has a wide range of potential he arylcyclohexylamines (also known as arylcyclo- Kclinical applications, including through what is here Thexamines or arylcyclohexanamines) were originally called ketamine psychedelic psychotherapy (KPP), but developed as anesthetics by Parke-Davis. Unlike all it is the only legally-available (i.e., through a physician’s other anesthetic agents, except perhaps nitrous oxide, off-label prescription without having to go through the arylcyclohexylamines do not generally extinguish regulatory hurdles) substance within the United States consciousness, but instead appear to “dissociate” mind that can reliably produce psychedelic experiences. from body (thus the name of “dissociative anesthetics”). Consequently, we review the literature on the clinical The arylcyclohexylamines predominantly block the application of KPP, and focus on the phenomenology N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, a target for of ketamine-induced psychedelic experiences in terms the neurotransmitter glutamate in the brain, and prevent of possible clinical applications within a transpersonal the NMDA receptor from being activated by glutamate context. (Ahmadi & Mahmoudi, 2005; Ahmadi, Khalili, 84 International Journal of Transpersonal Studies , 33(2), 2014, pp. 84-140 Kolp et al. Hajikhani, & Naserbakht, 2011). In addition to NMDA distorted sense of time and space, visual and auditory antagonism, the arylcyclohexylamines produce µ opioid hallucinations). receptor agonism (Itzhak & Simon, 1984) and cause PCP use spread in the 1970s. When PCP is dopamine reuptake inhibition (Chaudieu et al., 1989). snorted or smoked (for example, users dipped tobacco Some of the arylcyclohexylamines also produce sigma or cannabis cigarettes in the liquid form of PCP or receptor agonistic (He et al., 1993), nACh receptor sprinkled its powder form on a leafy material like antagonistic (Eterović et al., 1999), and D2 receptor tobacco or cannabis), the effects are felt within 4 to 5 agonistic (Seeman, Ko, & Tallerico, 2005) actions. minutes and last from 4 to 6 hours. PCP can also be Antagonism of the NMDA receptor generates injected, although this appears to be a less common dissociative (hallucinogenic), anesthetic, neuroprotective route of administration. and anticonvulsant effects; stimulation of the sigma PCP use may have peaked around 1978, when and D2 receptors contributes to hallucinogenic People magazine called it the country’s “number one” (psychomimetic) effects; activation of the µ-opioid drug problem. PCP became infamous for its recurrent receptor causes analgesic and anxiolytic effects; blockade binges (so-called “runs”), when chronic users would of the dopamine transporter mediates stimulant and take PCP repeatedly for 2 to 3 consecutive days at a euphoriant effects (as well as adding to psychomimetic time without eating or sleeping. It was estimated that effects in higher doses); the combination of the two last at least 7 million Americans used PCP on at least qualities confers a strong antidepressant effect; and the one occasion between 1975 and 1983. The American combination of all the above pharmacological properties Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical make the arylcyclohexylamines powerful psychedelic Manual (DSM)-IV-TR (APA, 2000) devoted a separate drugs. chapter to this substance entitled Phencyclidine-Related The first member of the arylcyclohexylamine class Disorder. By the mid-1980s, PCP use began declining, to be discovered was phencyclidine. It was synthesized in perhaps partly as a result of the increased popularity of 1926, eventually patented in 1953 by the Parke-Davis ketamine and crack cocaine. Eventually, PCP use slowly pharmaceutical company for use as an anesthetic agent faded away, although there is still some manufacture for humans and animals, and was marketed under the by clandestine chemists. Today PCP is classified as a brand name Sernyl® (referring to serenity). By 1965, its hallucinogen and the new APA (2013) DSM-5 places its use with humans was discontinued as clinical studies effects in the Hallucinogen-Related Disorder category, revealed that patients experienced what was then seen as with classical hallucinogens. “psychotic” symptoms when emerging from the drug’s The second compound from the arylcyclo- effects (so-called “emergence delirium”). Today, it is hexylamines class, eticyclidine, was also developed by rarely used even in the veterinary community. However, Parke-Davis and evaluated for anesthetic potential it continues to be legally available for research purposes under the code name CI-400. Eticlydine is very similar in the United States, but as a Schedule II controlled in effects to phencyclidine and is slightly more potent. substance. Parke-Davis did not continue its research of eticyclidine Phencyclidine re-emerged as a drug of abuse after the development of ketamine, a similar drug with in the mid-1960s due to its strong euphoriant and more favorable properties. Nevertheless, eticyclidine psychedelic qualities. The drug was relatively easy and (under the name of PCE) did make its way to the inexpensive to manufacture in clandestine laboratories streets and was briefly abused in the 1970s and 1980s. and it quickly became popular on the streets, with names It did not become popular with recreational users due such as “Angel Dust” and PCP. PCP can be pressed into to its unpleasant taste and tendency to cause nausea. pills or put in capsules and swallowed. When ingested Eticyclidine was placed into the U.S. Schedule I list of orally, effects are felt in 30 to 45 minutes and last from 6 illegal drugs in the 1970s and its use is unknown today. to 24 hours. Doses of less than 5 mg produce euphoriant Ketamine was the third compound from the effects (feelings of elation and joy, relaxation, feelings of class of arylcyclohexylamines that Parke-Davis developed unreality and mild dissociation from the environment), as part of an effort to find