The Story Can ketamine cure PTSD?
Jun 17, 2025
Catherine Philp, the World Affairs Editor for The Times with nearly 25 years of conflict reporting experience, discusses the surprising benefits of ketamine therapy for PTSD, particularly among Ukrainian soldiers. She shares her insights on the emotional breakthroughs this treatment facilitates and highlights the urgent mental health crisis stemming from the ongoing war. Philp also reflects on her own PTSD journey and explores the transformative potential of psychedelics in mental health, navigating the medical and societal hurdles in accessing these therapies.
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Igor's Death Experience with Ketamine
- Igor, a Ukrainian soldier with PTSD, experienced hearing his own death mistakenly announced over military radio.
- During ketamine therapy, he faced a comforting female figure of death, which he found healing rather than frightening.
Igor's Journey to Speech Recovery
- Igor struggled to speak due to trauma-induced stuttering and sought ketamine therapy for relief.
- The clinic in Kiev combined ketamine administration with therapy sessions, supporting patients throughout the process.
Breakthrough Speech Improvement
- After his fourth ketamine session, Igor noticed he could speak with much less stuttering.
- This breakthrough was recognized first by his therapist, transforming his PTSD symptoms significantly.
