Emily Maschauer - Ketamine and its use for alcohol relapse prevention

Ketamine is presented as a prospective treatment for alcohol use disorder and relapse prevention in this clinical research talk. The substance shows potential for helping patients remain abstinent, possibly by addressing comorbid depression, promoting neurogenesis, and providing life-altering psychedelic-like experiences that may facilitate long-term behavior change. The KARE trial is highlighted, a study employing low-dose ketamine infusions combined with cognitive behavioral therapy to support recovery. Patients involved in the study wear a body-worn sensor to monitor alcohol consumption, aiming to evaluate the efficacy of this combination therapy in real-world settings over a six-month follow-up period.