Early-onset dementia increases risk of suicide...a dual role for ketamine?

A study in JAMA Neurology released in October 2022 notes that risk of death by suicide amongst adults aged under 65-years within three-months of a diagnosis of dementia increases almost 7-fold compared with their peers without dementia.

These findings emphasize the importance of concurrent implementation of suicide risk assessment for those patients diagnosed with early-onset dementia.

In a previous newsletter we examined the potential role of ketamine infusion as pro-cognitive therapy in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Read more about this here.

Read the Medscape Review

What do our patients say about ketamine for anxiety?

The efficacy of ketamine infusions for alleviating anxiety is often understated. At KetaMIND clinics, we routinely ask patients to provide feedback after an infusion series.

"The series of ketamine infusions has made a significant difference and the outcome exceeded my expectation. This has been the most effective treatment I have tried...

My anxiety is almost completely gone. I can go for a walk. I sing along to songs. I don't ruminate on negative thoughts as much. I find myself not wanting to sleep all the time. I enjoy spending time with my family now. I have more motivation.

I don't look in the mirror and think I look hideous any more."

KetaMIND Patient, Umhlanga Clinic

Is there a real risk of causing a Hypertensive Emergency with low-dose ketamine infusion?

The sympathomimetic effect of bolused ketamine (as used for procedural sedation and anaesthesia) can cause a concerning spike in blood pressure. However this is not the case with titrated, low-dose, subanaesthetic KIT.

This very relevant article by a consultant in Emergency Medicine promotes best practice guidelines for dealing with hypertensive emergency and urgency, and suggests that a more rational approach to this issue in the context of KIT is called for.

Read the Article

KetaMIND management, doctors, nurses & administration staff wish all of our patients and colleagues a very blessed Christmas and prosperous New Year.

2022 has come and gone. It is remarkable how we have all but forgotten the dark days of COVID, yet the legacy of SARS CoV2's effect on mental health lives on. This year saw the KetaMIND group reach the milestone of 5000 safe infusions at our four accredited clinics. Further clinics will open around the country in 2023.
We continue to work with our colleagues at SASOP towards securing benefits for KIT from medical aid schemes and promoting the safe and regulated administration of outpatient ketamine at accredited clinics.

I wish all of the KetaMIND staff and their families a peaceful and joyous Christmas.

Dr Alan Howard
National Medical Director

KetaMIND clinics currently offer outpatient ketamine infusions at the following locations:

BEDFORDVIEW (GP)

CONSTANTIA (WC)

UMHLANGA (KZN)

HILTON (KZN)

Contact a KCSA branch

In the next newsletter..

Ketamine for crisis management - Why, whom, and how?

A very useful article in European Neuropsychopharmacology released earlier in 2022 discusses the use of ketamine and esketamine in crisis management (suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviour).

A rational approach to patient selection, contraindications, outcome measures, concomitant treatments, side effects, and extending efficacy is presented.

In the next newsletter we will link to this article.

How did KCSA start in South Africa?

KetaMIND Clinics of South Africa (KCSA) was founded by Dr Alan Howard, a Consultant in Emergency Medicine who returned home permanently to his native South Africa from Ireland in 2019.

To read more about Dr Howard and KCSA's flagship clinic in the Natal Midlands in two informative articles published in South African Psychiatry click on the link below.

Read about the start of KCSA

View past newsletters