Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a mental health disorder that affects 1 in 100 people and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. The distress that comes with the anxiety, urges and abnormal compulsions plague the majority of their day.
O- Obsession
C-Compulsions
D-Distress
Types of OCD
• Checking
• Contamination
• Mental Contamination
• Hoarding
• Ruminations
• Intrusive Thoughts
One example of “checking” OCD symptoms include checking to make sure the stove is off repeatedly and worrying that when you leave the house, you have forgotten to check it or aren’t sure it was really off. Along with checking throughout the day, it’s not uncommon for those suffering with “checking” disorders to have to come back home to check on an issue multiple times, or to get out of bed to check.
OCD can be triggered by stress, abuse, trauma, depression, or crisis. One in seven people with obsessive compulsive disorder attempt suicide.
In the case of OCD, hyperactivity causes certain areas of the brain and neurotransmitters to become overstimulated. It is thought that glutamate plays a large role in circuitry stimulation. It’s difficult to treat OCD with pharmacological and behavioral standard. Roughly one-third of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) fail to experience significant clinical benefit from first-line interventions such as pharmacotherapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).1
The drug Ketamine is a glutamate receptor and offers greater reduction in obsessive behaviors with low-dose administration.
In 2013, the first Ketamine IV clinical trial for OCD patients showed that after just one low-dose ketamine IV treatment, half of the patients (out of 15), showed reduction in obsessive behaviors (35 percent or greater reduction in the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, or Y-BOCS, one week after infusion).1 And those results lasted for several weeks. Because of the remarkable results, the lead researchers are now calling for a larger trial for patients with OCD and the effect of Ketamine IV therapy.
Ketamine IV Therapy
For many years, Ketamine has been studied in patients with severe depression and PTSD. It is now also being studied for its effectiveness in treating alcohol and substance use disorders. A rapid, instantaneous effect takes place immediately upon the drug being dispensed intravenously. When a well-trained physician administers Ketamine, it can help with symptoms associated with depression such as like moodiness, decreased concentration, low self-esteem, impaired sleep, decreased sexual desire, diminished appetite, addiction, and can even alleviate suicidal thoughts. During the treatment, the initial infusions usually take place over approximately two weeks, with six infusions that are administered every other day.
Gulf Coast Ketamine Center
Gulf Coast Ketamine Center works closely with a therapist well-versed in Ketamine therapy to maximize the benefits of the therapy in patients who are appropriate for this particular treatment.
The uses of IV Ketamine keep expanding as far as the mental health field is concerned; selecting a practitioner with a significant amount of Ketamine experience who follows and practices evidence-based medicine, and who tailors each patient’s individual protocol as best suited to their clinical situation is essential.
Dr. Steven Reichbach states, “In our opinion, IV Ketamine infusions are the gold standard for patients with severe mood disorders or those suffering from chronic pain. It is now purported as viable option for those that suffer from addictions as well.
“IV ketamine provides 100% bioavailability meaning that 100% of the drug administered, gets where it needs to go (the brain). This provides easier titration and a higher likelihood for a positive response. At the end of the day, the out of pocket cost to the patient may be more than the IV infusions depending on an individual’s insurance coverage, not to mention the time convenience advantage for the patient of the IV ketamine infusions.”
Steven Reichbach, MD, Board-Certified Anesthesiologist, specializes in pain management. For more information, please contact their office today at 941-213-4444, or visit their website at findpainrelief.com.
Gulf Coast Ketamine Center
2415 University Parkway, Building #3,
Suite 215, Sarasota, FL 34243
941-213-4444 | www.findpainrelief.com
Sources:
1. https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/dr-carolyn-rodriguez-ocd-expert-interview/