Prolonged Grief Symptom Outcomes During At-Home Ketamine-Assisted Therapy: A Real-World Retrospective Analysis of 503 Adults

Bottom line: A real-world analysis suggests that at-home ketamine-assisted therapy may be associated with reduced prolonged grief symptoms, particularly in identity-related aspects, though further research is needed.

A person is sitting in a bedroom, staring at the ceiling, wondering if their grief will ever end. This is not a metaphor — it’s a real experience for millions who’ve lost a loved one. Prolonged grief disorder, or PGD, is a condition recognized in both the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11. It’s not just sadness — it’s a clinical diagnosis that can lead to suicidal thoughts and disrupt daily life.

A new study looked at 503 people who had been grieving for months or years and received ketamine-assisted therapy through a telehealth platform called Mindbloom. The results show a drop in prolonged grief symptoms over time. But the study also raises more questions than it answers. Is ketamine helping with grief itself, or just treating the depression that often comes with it? And if it is helping with grief, how does that change what we know about healing after loss?

How Ketamine Might Be Changing the Game for Grief

Prolonged grief is not just a feeling — it’s a condition that can feel like a second identity. People with PGD often describe losing a part of themselves. This is measured with the PGD-13 scale, which includes items like “I feel like I have lost a part of myself” and “I feel like I have no identity.”

The study followed 503 adults who had been grieving for at least a year and used ketamine-assisted therapy at home. Ketamine has been used for decades in depression care, but its role in treating grief is new. On average, participants’ PGD-13 scores dropped by more than 11 points after six sessions of at-home ketamine-assisted therapy. That’s a big shift — and it suggests ketamine might be doing more than just treating depression.

The biggest improvement was not in the emotional pain item, which is often linked to depression, but in the identity/role confusion item. This suggests that ketamine might be targeting the core of prolonged grief — the feeling of losing one’s identity — rather than just the depressive symptoms that come with it.

The Science Behind the Numbers

The study used the PGD-13 scale at baseline and again after sessions 2, 4, and 6. The results showed a clear pattern: the more sessions a person completed, the more their symptoms declined. By the end of six sessions, 76% of participants had met the study’s definition of a “response” — a 5-point improvement in their PGD-13 score.

What’s interesting is the subgroup analysis. People who had lost someone within the past 6 to 11 months had the largest improvements. This suggests ketamine might be particularly effective for people in the early stages of grief. Could it be used to prevent prolonged grief from developing?

The researchers also looked at the impact of ketamine on other symptoms. Emotional pain improved by 26.4%, but identity confusion dropped by 35.9%. This is significant because it suggests ketamine might be helping people re-engage with their sense of self, which is critical for healing from prolonged grief.

What the Study Doesn’t Prove — and Why It Matters

Despite the promising results, the study has some important limitations. It’s a retrospective analysis, meaning the data was collected after the treatment was already given. This makes it harder to draw definitive conclusions about cause and effect.

The study didn’t use a control group, so the improvements seen might be due to other factors — like the passage of time or the placebo effect.

Another key limitation is that the study didn’t isolate the effect of ketamine on prolonged grief from its effects on depression. Many people with prolonged grief also have depression, and ketamine is known to be effective for that. So while the study shows ketamine can reduce grief symptoms, it doesn’t prove it’s doing so independently of its effects on depression.

The study also doesn’t address the long-term effects of ketamine therapy. The results are encouraging, but they only show what happened up to six sessions. It’s unclear whether the improvements are sustained or if there are any long-term risks with repeated use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can ketamine really help with prolonged grief?
A: The study suggests that it may, but more research is needed. The improvements seen in PGD-13 scores are significant, but the study didn’t isolate the effect of ketamine on grief from its effects on depression.

Q: Is at-home ketamine therapy safe?
A: The study reports that side effects were uncommon, occurring in less than 10% of participants. However, ketamine is a powerful drug and should only be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Q: How many sessions are needed for improvement?
A: The study found that improvements were most pronounced after six sessions, with the largest gains seen in the first two. However, the optimal number of sessions may vary depending on the individual.

Q: Can ketamine prevent prolonged grief?
A: The study didn’t specifically address prevention. However, the fact that people in the early stages of grief had the largest improvements suggests ketamine might be useful in the early stages of loss.

Q: Are there any long-term risks of using ketamine for grief?
A: The study didn’t examine long-term effects, and more research is needed. Ketamine is generally considered safe when used in controlled settings, but it can have side effects, especially with prolonged use.

Sources

• ¶Prolonged Grief Symptom Outcomes During At-Home Ketamine-Assisted Therapy: A Real-World Retrospective Analysis of 503 Adults
• ¶Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A State-of-the-art Review

Educational Disclaimer

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, mental health advice, diagnosis, treatment guidance, or a recommendation to use any substance, supplement, therapy, or protocol.

We review publicly available research and explain what the evidence may suggest. Some studies may be early-stage, observational, animal-based, lab-based, theoretical, or incomplete. Always consult a qualified professional before making health-related decisions.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. In the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Elsewhere, contact your local emergency or crisis service.

Researched and drafted by Spore, ShroomWire’s AI research assistant, and reviewed by the ShroomWire editorial team before publishing.