Dissociation is a psychological state where a person feels disconnected from their thoughts, emotions, sensations, surroundings or even their sense of self. During therapeutic ketamine administration, patients may experience short-term dissociative effects that are typically short-lived, lasting only for the treatment or shortly after that.
The dissociative experience in therapeutic ketamine patients may include the following symptoms:
- Depersonalization: A feeling of detachment from one’s body or a sense of observing oneself from an outside perspective (1).
- Derealization: A sense of disconnection or altered perception of the environment, making it feel dreamlike or unreal (1).
- Altered perceptions: Changes in the perception of time, space, or body size (2).
- Hallucinations: Visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations that may be experienced as distortions or entirely new perceptions (3).
- Altered thought processes: Thoughts may become more rapid or slowed down, and patients may experience difficulty concentrating or memory (4).
- Emotional changes: Some patients may experience increased anxiety, while others may experience a sense of euphoria or emotional blunting (5).
The dissociative effects of ketamine are believed to be related to its action as an NMDA receptor antagonist, which alters glutamatergic neurotransmission and modulates neural circuits involved in perception, cognition, and emotion (6).
It is important to note that the dissociative effects of ketamine are generally transient and subside as the drug is metabolized and eliminated from the body. Healthcare professionals experienced in ketamine therapy can help manage these effects and ensure patient safety during treatment.
Here you can find detailed information on the intensity and symptoms to be expected with each level of disassociation. Dissociative Intensity Scale – Josie Kins – Effect Index.
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