379: Can ketamine really treat depression (and PTSD and ADHD)? (ft. Sam Mandel)

According to Gallup News, nearly 48 million people in the US alone struggle with depression, which is a staggering ~18% of the population. In fact, depression is the leading cause of disability in the country.

And the US isn't the only place affected -- rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, and more are rising globally, especially post-pandemic.

We need new, innovative, and effective ways of meeting this challenge, which impacts not only adults but teenagers and even children. And as you can imagine, depression in one parent or family members impacts the whole family, including intimate partners.

Here are a few questions of the many questions I pose to Sam Mandel, CEO and co-founder of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles:

• What exactly is ketamine, and how is it used to treat depression, ADHD, OCD, etc.?
• Is ketamine safe? What are the risks? How long does it take to see results? What are the statistics on how well it works?
• How much ketamine do you need to get results? How is it dosed?
• Can ketamine be used to treat tweens or teens in distress (self-harm, suicidality, etc.)?
• How much does it cost? Is ketamine covered by insurance?

---

Memorable quotes from this episode:

• “Suicidality is a spectrum.”
• “Depression doesn’t discriminate."
• “It’s a happy cry in a lot of ways!”
• “On ketamine, the whole brain is lit up.”
• “It’s really never too late to make major changes to who you are.”
• “There are a lot of people who are really suffering who are high-functioning.”
• “Poor sleep has a domino effect on energy, memory, mood, etc.”
• “People often have a spiritual experience.”
• “It’s the ketamine plus care.”

---

Mentioned on this episode:

• Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles: ketamineclinics.com
• Dear Men episode 364: What exactly is complex PTSD, and how do you know if you have it? (ft. Setareh Vatan)