Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and its Effects on Self-Transcendence: A Program Evaluation

Abstract

Purpose: This DNP project conducted a summative evaluation of Tucson Counseling Associates’ (TCA) Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) program, assessing its effectiveness in enhancing patients’ self-transcendence and overall well-being. Background: Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, has been used since the 1960s as an anesthetic. Its neuroplasticity-enhancing and dissociative properties have led to its off-label psychiatric use for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression (TRD), suicidal ideation, substance use disorders (SUD), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Domino, 2010). KAP integrates sub-anesthetic ketamine doses with psychotherapy to optimize therapeutic effects. The Self-Transcendence Scale (STS) is used to measure self-transcendence, a concept tied to spiritual and existential growth, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of KAP's psychological and existential impacts (Reed, 2009). Methods: A retrospective chart review analyzed pre- and post-treatment STS scores from TCA clients receiving KAP between July 2021 and August 2024. Data included diagnosis, session counts, STS responses, and total STS scores. Statistical analysis was conducted using paired t-tests to assess significance, with Cohen’s d to evaluate effect size. An alpha level of 0.05 determined statistical significance. Furthermore, Cronbach’s Alpha was used to test for internal consistency of the STS. ResultsSignificant improvements in self-transcendence were observed, with mean STS scores rising from 44.61 pre-treatment to 46.87 post-treatment (p = 0.017, d = 0.35). Notable increases were found in adaptability, finding meaning in one’s past, and letting go of regrets, with "Finding meaning in past experiences" showing the largest effect (d = 0.95, p < 0.000001). Participants with lower baseline self-transcendence showed the greatest gains, particularly those in the low-moderate group, whose mean STS score rose from 34.13 to 41.38 (p = 0.0016, d = 1.56). Lastly, running a Cronbach’s Alpha test on the data to assess internal consistency produced a value of 0.80, indicating that the STS scale has a good level of internal consistency. Conclusions: KAP effectively enhances self-transcendence, especially in domains of personal growth, purpose, and connectedness. The findings suggest KAP is particularly beneficial for individuals with initially low self-transcendence, supporting it as a promising approach that not only mitigates mental health symptoms but also promotes holistic well-being.