In part one of this two-part blog series, we looked into some of the response types that are common among those who receive ketamine therapy treatments. When we talk about "response" in this setting, we're referring to how long it takes for the effects of treatment to kick in - some people will notice results within just one or two sessions, while others may take a bit longer to see theirs.
At A Mind's Journey, we're happy to provide expertise like this to any of our clients, for whom we offer caring, compassionate ketamine therapy treatments for PTSD, anxiety, depression and more. Today's part two of our series will look into some other categories of response: Late responders, plus those somewhat rarer patients who do not ever see a significant response. Let's dive in!
We left off in part one of our series with standard responders, or people who tend to notice gradual improvements that begin anywhere from three to five sessions into their treatment. Next up here on the scale are late responders - people who respond later than normal to ketamine therapy.
In these cases, it often takes a bit longer for the patient to notice their first effects. Rather than noticing these within five or so treatments, they might not begin to feel any real changes until eight or nine sessions in. Now, once benefits do begin kicking in, most late responders find that they tend to progress steadily from that point - so in most cases, the only real difference for late responders compared to standard responders is the time of the first onset of benefits.
Finally, while this is somewhat rarer (usually around 20% of patients), there are some cases of people who don’t experience significant effects from ketamine therapy at all. In these situations, it's important for the patient to be evaluated by an experienced doctor in order to rule out any other causes or factors that could be playing a role in their lack of response.
Once this has been done and the possibility of other issues has been eliminated, the patient can then decide with their doctor whether to continue with ketamine treatments or try another form of therapy altogether.
An important reminder here: Every person who receives ketamine treatments will have a different experience with its effects, so responding to ketamine therapy doesn't necessarily guarantee success - but it is the first step towards finding a better quality of life.
At A Mind’s Journey, we take pride in our personalized, comprehensive approach to helping each and every one of our patients get the most out of their ketamine therapy treatments - no matter their response type or the speed of their improvements. We understand that each person has a unique story to tell, and we work hard to ensure that every one is heard and treated with respect.
If you’re looking for a place where you can receive knowledgeable, professional ketamine therapy treatments, contact us today – we’d be happy to give you further information.
