Micro-dose, macro-impact: Leveraging psychedelics in frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

A recent, although relatively small scale, study on the benefits of microdosing ketamine showed an incredibly high success rate in relieving mental health issues in frontline health professionals. The full-length article from The Journal of Psychedelic Studies is freely available. This open-label at-home study (n=25) of ketamine tablets (37.5mg) finds that repeated ‘micro’ doses led to improvements in anxiety, stress, PTSD, and depression in 90-100% of participants.

Abstract

“Background and aims The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing high levels of physician stress and burnout. In order to help treat frontline colleagues who were diagnosed with acute stress disorder, we chose a non-psychedelic, ketamine micro-dose treatment strategy for symptom management.

Methods We provided care virtually. All patients were prescribed sublingual ketamine once daily. Each patient was evaluated using the NIH-PROMIS CAT assessments for stress, depression, anxiety, and PTSD via a remote, HIPAA compliant patient self-reporting platform. Progress was tracked and assessed against a baseline value obtained prior to the start of treatment. Patient progress was evaluated at a 4–6-week interval. Patients did not report any significant side effects to the treatment regimen.

Results 100% (25/25) of patients experienced improved anxiety, 92% (23/25) experienced improved stress, 96% (24/25) experienced improved PTSD, and 91% (20/22) experienced improved depression.

Conclusions While we cannot draw definitive conclusions from the association demonstrated by this data, we believe these results demonstrate that further research into the efficacy of daily, short-term ketamine micro-doses for treatment of acute stress disorder is warranted.”

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