The 4 Types of Non-Ordinary Experiences Your Ketamine Patients Can Have

When providing IV ketamine infusions to your patients, you may already be well-aware that ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic. But it is important to know that there are different types of experiences that your patient can have during the treatment. It’s your job as the doctor to be aware of what these experiences or “states” are so that you can take care of your patients better.

Close up of a fresh oyster mushroom

Your patients may be wondering what the role of dissociative experiences is in order for them to get better. It is your job as their doctor to walk them through this and make them understand.

Why “Trip” Your Patients?

Your patients may want to know why these dissociative experiences are so important in treating depression, other mood disorders and chronic pain. A study by Lukenbaugh et al, demonstrated people with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) had a more robust and sustained antidepressant effect in those who experienced dissociation during the infusion.

This dissociative experience during ketamine is also known as a “ketamine-induced non-ordinary state of consciousness.” Depending on the amount of ketamine given, the set and setting of the ketamine administration, and the mindset of the patient who is being treated, there are 4 types of non-ordinary experiences your ketamine patients can have.

The number 4 in white surrounded by multiple leaves and flowers

According to Dr. Eli Kolp, there are 4 types of ketamine-induced states that the patient may experience during the treatment.

The 4 Types of Ketamine-Induced States

According to a study by Dr. Eli Kolp, et al., there are 4 types of experiences or “states"

EMPATHOGENIC EXPERIENCE

  • Awareness of body

  • Comfort and relaxation

  • Reduced ego defenses

  • Empathy, compassion, and warmth

  • Love and peace

  • Euphoria

  • Mind is dreamy with non-specific colorful visual effects

OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE (OBE)

  • Complete separation from one’s body

  • Significantly diminished ego defenses

  • Visits to mythological realms of consciousness

  • Encounters with non-terrestrial beings

  • Emotionally intense visions (e.g., deceased relatives, spirits)

  • Vivid dreams of past and future incarnations

  • Re-experiencing the birth process

NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE (NDE)

  • Departure from one’s body

  • Complete ego dissolution/loss of identity

  • Experienced physical (body) and psychological (mind) death

  • Experience being a single point of consciousness simply aware of itself

  • Reliving one’s life aware of how actions have affected others, with moral judgment of self

EGO-DISSOLVING TRANSCENDENTAL EXPERIENCE (EDT)

  • Ecstatic state of the dissolution of boundaries between the self and external reality

  • Complete dissolution of one’s body and self (soul)

  • Transcending normal mass/time/space continuum

  • Collective consciousness

  • Unity with Nature/Universe

  • Sacredness

Colored pencils in various colors with their tips meeting at the center

Your role as the doctor to your ketamine patients is crucial in giving them a safe, supportive, and transformative experience during treatment.

You Set The Tone

Although the type of experience your patient will have depends on their mindset, you as the doctor also have a role to play in creating the right set and “setting” and determining the right dose. These 2 elements are very important and set the mood for the treatment. 

We hope that you now have a deeper understanding of ketamine-induced non-ordinary state of consciousness.

If you want to know more about running a ketamine infusion clinic and creating the right environment for your patients, join our email list and be notified about the next free webinar and open registration for Ketamine StartUp.

REFERENCES:

Top view of spiral staircase

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, so when you administer ketamine infusions, your patients will have non-ordinary experiences. In this blog post, we’ll talk about these 4 types of experiences which you should be aware of.



Previous
Previous

4 Things to Let Your Ketamine Patients Know To Expect During An Infusion

Next
Next

10 Things to Know When Being A Ketamine Specialist