Evidence-based treatment
Ketamine Therapy for Veterans
Many veterans live with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety long after their service ends, often after trying treatments that didn’t bring enough relief. Ketamine therapy offers a different approach, with medical supervision at every step.
What the research says about ketamine therapy for veterans
The effects of military service don’t always end when service does. Many veterans return home living with PTSD, depression, or both. Sleep changes. Relationships feel strained. Everyday situations can feel harder than they should.
According to the VA’s 2026 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, 6,488 veterans died by suicide in 2024, an average of 17.7 per day. Of those veterans, 62% had not received VA health care in the year they died or the previous year. Many veterans have also tried traditional treatments like talk therapy and antidepressants without finding enough relief, which means it may be time to look at other options.
The latest data at a glance
veterans die by suicide each day in the U.S., on average.
VA 2026 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Report
of chronic PTSD patients responded to a series of ketamine infusions (vs. 20% placebo)
American Journal of Psychiatry, randomized controlled trial
relative drop in severe depression among veterans completing Spravato induction
VHA records analysis of 80 veterans, 2025
The latest data on ketamine therapy for veterans
This is where ketamine therapy may help. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has been used safely in medicine for decades, including in military field medicine.
Today, it’s used in two main forms to treat depression and related conditions: IV ketamine, given as a slow infusion, and Spravato® (an esketamine-based nasal spray), which the FDA approved for treatment-resistant depression in 2019. The VA made Spravato available to veterans that same year.
Researchers have studied ketamine for PTSD and depression in both veterans and civilians. Here’s what the studies show so far:
- A randomized controlled trial of 30 adults with chronic PTSD found that 67% responded to six ketamine infusions over two weeks, compared with 20% of those who received an active placebo
- A multisite trial of 158 veterans and active-duty service members with PTSD who hadn’t responded to antidepressants found that the standard ketamine dose significantly reduced depression symptoms compared with placebo. However, the study did not find a statistically significant improvement in PTSD symptoms compared with placebo.
- A 2025 analysis of Veterans Health Administration records found that among veterans with treatment-resistant depression who completed the Spravato induction phase, the share with severe depression dropped from 50% to 17.5%
The research is still developing. Results for PTSD are mixed, many studies are small and researchers agree that larger trials are needed. The strongest evidence so far supports ketamine for depression, which many veterans living with PTSD also experience.
For veterans who have tried other treatments and still feel stuck, these findings offer a promising, evidence-based option to discuss with a medical team.
How ketamine therapy can help veterans
Fast-acting relief
Ketamine can ease depression symptoms within hours or days, rather than the weeks many antidepressants take.
A different pathway
Ketamine acts on glutamate, a different brain system than traditional antidepressants, which may help when other medications haven't.
Room to process
With a therapist's support, many people find it easier to approach difficult memories without feeling overwhelmed.
Connected care
We work alongside your VA or community providers so your treatment plan stays coordinated.
The ketamine treatment process
01
Schedule free consultation
Our treatment process starts with a personal consultation, where we take time to understand your unique challenges. We collaborate with you and your health providers to create a personalized care plan.
02
Begin treatment
03
During treatment
04
Regular sessions
Our physicians design a customized treatment plan for each patient. The induction period lasts 3–4 weeks and includes 6–8 sessions. Maintenance sessions are scheduled based on each patient’s needs.
What healing can feel like
What our clinicians are seeing
Stacey Blume Frankel, LCSW
Psychotherapist
“I recently spoke with a veteran who described how the sound of sirens on the streets of New York City would immediately activate his nervous system, causing a trauma response.
Since beginning ketamine treatment, he has experienced significant emotional relief and a greater ability to pause rather than react automatically. He can recognize the trigger without being overwhelmed by intense fear and pain. He can now remind himself that the siren is a present-day signal of distress rather than a threat to his own safety, and then consciously choose to respond differently. He is also more easily able to utilize healthy coping strategies, such as positive self-talk and breathing exercises to soothe himself.
I think this is a powerful example of the potential benefits of neuroplasticity. The triggers themselves have not disappeared; rather, the patient gained greater freedom to observe external stimuli without falling into the same reactive patterns that kept him stuck in the past. He now has the space to pause, make a new choice, and create new neural pathways towards healing. Over time, these new responses can help strengthen healthier thoughts and emotions — leading to lasting positive change.”
Dr. Ariel Heller
Psychiatrist
“I think it can be really helpful for PTSD and can really help with the hyperarousal and intrusive thoughts.”
Yonit Malina, LCSW
Clinical Director of Psychotherapy
“I have seen it be very helpful with PTSD related to abuse and grief. Some of our patients are first responders, but in therapy with me they have used it more with PTSD related to their own lives and trauma rather than 9/11 or other traumatic war events.”
Why patients choose Keta Medical Center
Evening and weekend availability
Schedule appointments at times that
work best for you.
Full insurance support
We accept most major insurance plans and handle the paperwork for you.
Safe, physician-led care
Every treatment is supervised on-site by an experienced medical doctor.
Personalized treatment plans
Your treatment is designed around your unique mental health history and needs.
Integrated mental health support
We coordinate closely with your existing providers or connect you with our in-house team if needed.
Finding the right fit
Is ketamine therapy right for me?
Here are the basic guidelines, but the real answer comes from a conversation with our doctors.
Ketamine therapy may be a good fit if you:
- Are a veteran living with depression, PTSD or anxiety
- Have tried antidepressants or other approaches without finding relief
- Are 18 or older
Curious if ketamine therapy can help you?
FAQs
Yes. Many patients continue seeing their VA psychiatrist or therapist during treatment. With your permission, we coordinate with your providers so your care stays connected.
The research is promising but still developing. Some studies show meaningful improvement in PTSD symptoms, while others show the clearest benefit for depression, which many people with PTSD also experience. During your consultation, our medical team will talk through what the evidence means for you.
It may take a few sessions to a few weeks for ketamine to rewire neural connections in the brain, so we hope to see improvement by the end of the induction period (four weeks for Spravato and three weeks for IV ketamine). For Spravato, we recommend continuing with the medication for the first two months to give it the full time to work.
Ketamine has a long safety record in medicine. Because it can be misused, we give it only in our clinic, at carefully measured doses, with a clinician monitoring you throughout each session. You’ll never take ketamine home, and you’ll need someone to drive you after each session.