A psychiatrist reflects on two decades of treating depression with ketamine

Psychiatrist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses his article "A psychiatrist's 20-year journey with ketamine." Aly recounts his first encounters with ketamine at the National Institute of Mental Health, where its rapid impact on despair reshaped his understanding of depression treatment. He explains the neurobiologic mechanisms, the shift from research to real-world practice, and the FDA's evolving stance on esketamine and off-label IV ketamine. Aly emphasizes the importance of pairing ketamine with psychotherapy, screening patients carefully, and honoring both the power and limitations of this intervention. He also highlights access challenges, safety concerns, and the need for clinicians to build structured protocols. Listeners will take away a nuanced view of ketamine not as a miracle cure but as a catalyst for healing when embedded in comprehensive, patient-centered care. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click. Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's built on a foundation of trust. It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended