KAT
KAT

The medical field has a responsibility to catalyze breakthroughs that would offer hope to patients who have struggled with conditions that defy traditional interventions. This obligation brought ketamine therapy to light. It earned attention for alleviating conditions like chronic pain and severe mental health disorders. Dr. Scot DePue, the founder of Keystone Advanced Therapies (KAT) and an accomplished emergency physician, brings this innovative treatment to the forefront.

Dr. DePue attributes the growing interest in therapies like ketamine to a societal shift toward holistic, patient-empowered care. "Medicine is a pendulum," he explains. "We're currently swinging toward a more integrative approach that combines traditional practices with alternatives that prioritize the whole person." He acknowledges that patients who turn to alternative treatments like medical marijuana are ready to explore other non-mainstream options.

"Medical marijuana is a stepping stone for many people," Dr. DePue adds. "This would ease their transition to ketamine therapy." Ketamine infusion therapy is a medical procedure that involves administering low doses of ketamine under carefully controlled conditions. It was developed in the 1960s as an anesthetic, but, years later, ketamine's therapeutic potential was discovered.

The drug stands out for acting swiftly, shifting away from traditional antidepressants and pain medications that usually take weeks to take effect. Ketamine has a unique mechanism of action that makes this rapid response possible, targeting the brain's glutamate system to promote neuroplasticity.

Clinical studies have demonstrated ketamine's effectiveness in reducing symptoms of treatment-resistant depression. Patients struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also found relief in ketamine therapy, as it interrupts maladaptive thought patterns and enables the brain to form healthier responses to triggers.

Similarly, those living with chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) have deemed ketamine as a game-changer, given that it alleviates pain and restores mobility and function by modulating pain perception and resetting the nervous system's responses. Interestingly, there's emerging research highlighting the drug's potential in treating eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

Ketamine has also been employed in addiction medicine, helping patients manage withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and regain control over their lives. It's worth underlining that ketamine therapy's impact extends beyond traditional mental health and pain conditions. Dr. DePue states it has shown promise in addressing eating disorders by alleviating emotional distress and establishing a healthier relationship with food. "Ketamine can also be used in obesity management. After all, it can improve emotional regulation, which is an important factor in sustainable weight loss," the founder adds.

The seasoned medical professional sheds light on the misconceptions about ketamine, which stem from its historical use as a recreational drug. This unfortunately clouded public perception, but contrary to myths that label it as unsafe or addictive, medical ketamine therapy is supported by extensive research.

Dr. DePue attests to the vast potential of ketamine use. His first encounter with the drug was in the emergency room, where he treated a catatonic patient who had been unresponsive for days. He saw how a patient regained their mobility, coherence, and appetite within hours after administering a carefully measured dose of ketamine. The forward-thinking physician also found it equally effective in treating conditions such as phantom pain in a patient who experienced his first pain-free moment in decades after a single dose. Such instances solidified Dr. DePue's belief that ketamine could change lives.

However, the founder stresses that the success of ketamine therapy depends on its proper administration. "This treatment should be provided in a controlled, professional environment by trained medical practitioners who understand dosing and monitoring," he stresses. Dr. DePue and his team at Keystone Advanced Therapies, therefore, ensure to deliver controlled, medically supervised sessions to guarantee safety and efficacy. In other words, KAT follows a structured, evidence-based approach to dosing, monitoring, and patient care.

Dr. DePue offers a reassuring perspective to those hesitant about exploring ketamine therapy: "Imagine that you're gardening on a Wednesday when you scratch your arm on a rose thorn. It's angry and red by Friday, so you go to your doctor. By Monday, it's an abscess. I could numb this to treat it or set up an IV and give you medication to make you go to sleep for a few minutes. Then you will wake up with the procedure finished and a dressing already on your arm. Does this scenario scare you? Most say no," shares Dr. DePue. "Ketamine therapy is the same doctor, the same medication, the same monitor—but one-fourth the dose—and you'll relax, knowing that you're not facing a life-altering procedure but a safe, controlled, and effective treatment." This scenario demonstrates that ketamine therapy is safe when administered in a medical setting.

Ultimately, ketamine therapy is a massive step toward addressing some of the most challenging conditions in mental health, chronic pain, and more. Leaders like Dr. Scot DePue and institutions like Keystone Advanced Therapies help patients access treatments that prioritize innovation and empathy.