Lori Calabrese, MD

Tag: Ketamine Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

  • Plasma Cell Technology Destroys Viruses to Create a COVID-19 Safe Ketamine Clinic

    Plasma Cell Technology Destroys Viruses to Create a COVID-19 Safe Ketamine Clinic

    A 21st Century Approach to A Safe Ketamine Treatment Environment For You

    We’re always on the leading edge. And we’ve taken your safety a step further as we lead the way in providing the safest possible clinical setting for ketamine treatments: IV, IM, IN, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. We’ve talked about the safety of IV and IM ketamine treatment. We’ve also talked about the ways we’re taking precautions to keep you safe during this pandemic when you come in for ketamine treatment. What you maybe didn’t know is that behind the scenes, we’ve been continually scrubbing the air you breathe to destroy viruses and bacteria, lifting pathogens from hard surfaces, and laying down protective microbarriers – with new plasma cell technology that destroys viruses. We’re innovators, always seeking the best possible solutions. So, true to form, we’re the first ketamine practice anywhere to offer this complete technological safety package for our patients. In fact, we’re leaps and bounds ahead because your safety and ours is of utmost importance.

    We’re in this together.

    Let me tell you about what we’re doing for you.

    We’re on the side of science — not just about psychiatry, treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, BDNF, mechanisms of action, the lateral habenula, g-proteins. (What is all this stuff, right?) We jump right in to understand the controversies, to wade through the weeds — with new treatments like ketamine and with new world-wide health threats like COVID-19 — and we’ve been looking the safest technology to create a safe space. Staying safe, and staying healthy, is really the biggest game in town.

    So we stay up late, reading. And sometimes, like you, we’re up early, worrying. About how to stay safe. How to make it. How to make sure that you make it.

    And we’re doing that with VB Enviro Care.

    If you’re thinking about ketamine treatment, you should see a psychiatrist who is on the forefront of innovation — in every aspect of their work, including the space they’ve created to offer you treatment. We believe that, and we live and breathe it. So today we’re going to talk about that space — our incredibly lovely space — and the air you breathe when you’re with us.

    VB Enviro Care provides us with the best technology that destroys viruses like coronavirus in our offices.

    So we can all breathe easier. So we can be less fearful.

    It’s tough enough to come up for a breath of air when you’re depressed, or anxious or dealing with trauma.

    You shouldn’t have to worry about that breath of air when you’re in your doctor’s office.

    We have plasma cell technology that was developed at MIT and NASA, prepared for a time when we might be faced with biological warfare. (OK… so I would say we’re facing the fight of our lives with this pandemic… it sure feels like that.)

    It’s a plasma cell technology that not only removes but destroys viruses, bacteria, and mold from the air and the environment in a closed space. So it’s perfect for a doctor’s office. A ketamine clinic. An infusion center. Hospitals, ERs, walk-in clinics… you name it. In fact, it’s been rigorously tested in hospitals and ICUs around the world specifically against stubborn, highly-resistant infectious viruses and bacteria.

    And we’ve got it here for you.

    A symphony of technology, products, and procedures to clean, disinfect, sanitize and protect our air and every hard and soft surface in our office. (Yep, even the gorgeous ones.)

    Lori Calabrese, MD

    So let’s talk about surfaces first. The ones you touch and see. As you know, there is a difference between surface cleaning and sanitizing (removing pathogens). For instance, some surface cleaners remove 97% of all viruses and bacteria from a surface. Others remove 99%. 

    But in a pandemic, and in a doctor’s office, you deserve not just thorough but the most thorough sanitizing available. Technology that targets and removes pathogens like viruses, bacteria and mold not JUST from the air, but from all of the hard surfaces you see and touch. The Novaerus units and Steramist service we use through VB Enviro Care obliterates and erases those microorganisms from the air — and even lifts them from those surfaces — continually and regularly.

    They do MISTING regularly to sanitize our surfaces and further sanitize our air.

    (Sometimes it’s called fogging or electrostatic spraying. We like “misting.”)

    MISTING DISINFECTS AND SANITIZES ALL HARD AND SOFT SURFACES AND LEAVES A PROTECTIVE COATING BEHIND TO REPEL VIRUSES AND BACTERIA FROM LANDING ON THOSE SURFACES. THIS TECHNOLOGY DESTROYS VIRUSES IN THE AIR AND ON EVERY SURFACE.

    Our system–our symphony–destroys 99.99% viruses, bacteria, and mold from surfaces…like cabinets, counters, tables, chairs, equipment, handles, and knobs. Including coronavirus… and flu.

    So we clean regularly, disinfect continuously (all day and all night) with Novaerus, and then have VB Enviro Care come in to mist with confidence and on schedule… which destroys virtually all of the organisms that can make you sick. Obliterates them. And leaves a protective barrier behind on every surface (even the soft ones).

    Why Is This a Big Deal?

    Because we live and work and see our doctors in enclosed spaces. We’re not talking about your back yard or the city park. 

    In the open, air can circulate constantly and replace the air that surrounds you. That constant circulation and diffusion thins out the concentration of any micro droplets of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) — as long as people are distanced in open air areas. So coronavirus particles that waft your way are less concentrated.

    Oh wait. Microdroplets. What are those? When we talk about micro droplets, we aren’t referring to big juicy drops or even little juicy drops. These are so tiny they’re suspended in the air. (That’s why they’re called aerosols.) In fact, they can remain suspended for up to 16 hours. So the more an infected person talks and exhales in the same closed space, the more concentrated those aerosolized droplets become. And the more likely to spread the virus.

    Little side note here: This is also why we’ve been concerned that social distancing of 6 feet is not enough…because these particles can float 10 ft, 20 ft, even dozens of feet.

    And you know those sneezes and coughs we’re all so worried about? Those emit big drops…that are heavy and fall to land. But, the tiny aerosolized ones that are simply breathed out? They’re floating all over… ready to be inhaled.

    So what to do about them?

    While it’s important to keep washing your hands, to clean them of big droplets and keep them away from your face, it’s just not enough. Even wearing a mask isn’t enough. All those floating contaminants hang suspended indoors, slowly diffusing. Every time someone enters or leaves a building, more of those particles enter.

    Ok, so why not just boot up your laptop and order an air purifier?

    Because those have filters, and even some highly sophisticated systems that use UV, ozone, or chemicals…can block and hold the pathogens that are killing us. And there they can colonize, multiply, and escape back into the atmosphere.

    So think Plasma: It Destroys Infectious Organisms at the Molecular Level.

    VB Enviro Care and Novaerus use plasma technology. It kills airborne pathogens at the molecular level. Plasma, known as the fourth state of matter, can create an ultra low-energy “force field.” When bacteria, fungi, or virus particles—no matter how microscopic—move across this field, they are instantaneously destroyed at the level of their DNA. Every single one. Obliterated. 

    Novaerus is used in hospitals worldwide to safely kill airborne superbugs like MRSA, C. diff, and Tuberculosis, and has been proven to even be able lift and destroy them from hard surfaces. It has been tested and proven by more than 50 laboratories and clinical research sites, including the NASA Ames Research Centre in California. 

    So, this system is designed both for rapid remediation and continuous treatment of a given space.

    Our Novaerus units from VB Enviro Care perform with flying colors. They have been independently tested against MS2 Bacteriophage, a commonly used surrogate for SARS-CoV-2, and shown to reduce the virus by 99.99% in just 15 minutes.

    Plus they’re gorgeous. (Always a good thing.)

    A study published in June 2020, edited at Stanford University, highlighting the fact that COVID-19 is spread by sneezing or coughing has been corrected.

    Listen up because this is really important.  

    The truth is that just exhaling and talking release micro droplets containing the virus. So someone who has no symptoms can release infected micro droplets.

    The use of masks helps to manage these micro droplets. But only partially. 

    For this reason, it’s important to have the technology to destroy viruses in these infected micro droplets from the air you breathe.

    We have that technology. (I’m so excited that I’m saying it again, just in case you missed it!) Novaerus units through VB Enviro Care use patented filter-free ultra-low energy plasma technology with a single speed fan. And we’ve installed one of these units in every room in our offices.

    The result is that when you come in for ketamine infusions, the air you breathe is 99.99% free of coronavirus, influenza virus — and even the viruses that cause mild illnesses. It’s also free of bacteria and molds.

    What else are we doing?

    Locking our doors, keeping delivery folks outside, sanitizing what we bring in with ultraviolet lights. Washing our hands. Wearing masks, face shields, gloves. Cleaning with 70% alcohol throughout the day. Sanitizing each infusion room with with ultraviolet light after each infusion. Abiding by the rules, following quarantine guidelines, meticulously screening our patients and ourselves. We’re doing it all.

    We have protocols for you to follow to keep yourself safe, and for the safety all of our ketamine patients (and ourselves). We’ll send these to you before you come in for the first time and go over them again on the phone. Ask us about them before you come in for a follow-up infusion or maintenance infusion.

    These steps — combined with the best plasma cell technology and environmental care available that destroys viruses in our rooms — help you relax…and know you’re in safe hands. And in a safe place.

    So you can breathe easy.

    A symphony of care. Multiple layers of attention, time, and protection. You can have confidence when you’re with us.

    It’s enough that you are dealing with everything else this pandemic has caused while suffering from symptoms of treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, trauma, or suicidal thoughts.

    It’s ENOUGH.

    When there is so much to deal with, so much to overcome, to hold together, at least you can come in for your appointment and relax during treatment, knowing we’ve got your back. And the air that you breathe. Covered.

    We’ve talked often about how to screen a ketamine clinic. The 21st century technology that protects you when you are in that clinic is an important item to add to your list of requirements. For you, your family, and everyone you meet.

    At Innovative Psychiatry, we want to help you get better. And we’re relieved to be able to offer these advances in our office environment, so you can focus on your treatment and recovery.

    The medical journals these days talk about the increases in those who need psychiatric care during this pandemic — many who’ve never needed it before. Now, especially, you need to be not afraid to seek treatment for your symptoms.

    You need to feel better to cope. And you need to feel safe while you receive that treatment to feel better.

    So if you suffer from severe depression, bipolar depression, or PTSD that has not responded to treatment, call us. If you struggle with alcohol or other substances, call us.

    IV ketamine treatment may be the treatment that will make the difference for you. Although it doesn’t work for everyone (because nothing works for everyone), it does work for most. It can deliver hope, joy, and the capacity to build a rewarding life.

    Reach out and give yourself that opportunity safely.

    Lori Calabrese, M.D. is on the front end of the race to stop PTSD in its tracks using IV ketamine treatment.

    To the restoration of your best self,

  • Safety of IV Ketamine – What Do We Know About Repeated Infusions?

    Safety of IV Ketamine – What Do We Know About Repeated Infusions?

    Currently, with the growing use of IV or IM ketamine treatment for treatment resistant depression and bipolar depression, and years of clinical evidence to draw from, some people wonder if repeated use can cause adverse effects. 

    And while there is irrefutable evidence of serious adverse conditions among those who have used ketamine on the street in unmonitored doses, it’s time we learned more about the safety of repeated infusions of ketamine under a physician’s supervision. Thankfully, a prominent researcher has stepped up to the plate to give us answers to the question, “What is the safety of IV ketamine?” ~~

    Jackie’s sister Janie knocked on the door of her apartment. No answer. Her sister’s depression made it hard for her to see people…so it was common for her to not answer the door. Janie slipped the key from under the mat, and let herself in quietly. She found her sister in a ball in her bed… something was wrong. “Jackie, what is it? What’s happened?”

    Her 31-year-old sister was crying, and one look at her face told her she was more heartbroken than usual. She garbled through her tears, “I was so hoping ketamine treatment was going to help. I’d put all my hopes in it… that I’d get better, and be able to function, get a job and live like a normal person… But I was looking on the internet, and I found a site that said there are so many things that go can go wrong. I know it was just social media but I’m so afraid now…

    “What is the safety of IV ketamine? I mean I really need to know. I so want my life to get better.”

    Janie sat next to Jackie wrapped her arms around her… and held her while she cried. She reached for the box of tissues and gave her one.

    “I have to tell you, Jackie, I’m not sure. But what I’ve read sounded good. My impression is that it’s safe, and effective…most of the time. Even though there are no guarantees…it sounds pretty transforming for most people.

    “But I’m sure there are naysayers out there. So let’s research it together — now. Let’s find out. I feel pretty sure we can read more studies and doctors; reports, and figure out how true what you read is.”

    She continued, “As it turns out, I did learn you may improve after the first infusion, but you may not. It may take a few. We won’t rush it, though. You suffered so many years from this depression, let’s give this treatment every chance to help you get truly, deeply better.

    “My hope for you to get help is huge. I’m not an expert, but this is the best potential solution we’ve found anywhere. So let’s dig. Let’s find the best truth we can.”

    Jackie had stopped crying…she was nodding. She sat up in bed and pulled her laptop into her lap. Together, they started with pubmed.gov and searched for studies about ketamine for depression.

                                                      ~~

    Just what is the safety of IV ketamine treatment? …Really.

    Then, there are those who talk about psychotic breaks during treatment, and those who say they have severe bladder damage… and the list goes on. But does that happen?

    Let’s face it, if you’ve never received ketamine treatment, you know how desperate you feel to get something that can alleviate your treatment resistant depression. But you read these reports that seem to be all over the internet … and you don’t want to be duped. You wonder if ketamine infusions are not as safe as you thought, and you don’t want to add other problems to your already horrific treatment resistant depression.

    Don’t you just wish you could get help to empower you to live your life? This life. The only life you have. And fear says…What is the safety of IV ketamine treatment? You don’t want to jump from the frying pan into the fire, right?

    Then, there are the reports of alarming hallucinations that are supposedly so terrifying some people are afraid to undergo this treatment. So much exaggeration.

    A research team led by David Feifel, MD, whose reputation in studying ketamine for depression stands for itself, recently published a study about the safety of IV ketamine treatment.

    His research team used a survey sent to 69 providers — most of whom were psychiatrists — originally. Since some didn’t complete the survey, and some surveys were incomplete that number for the survey reduced to 27 providers who reported on a total of 6630 patients who had received repeated ketamine treatment by IV or IM administration.

    Their focus was to determine the amount of adverse events these patients experienced and reported to their doctors…and it was surprisingly low.

    The patients were divided in the survey results by the number of treatments they received, the length of time they’d been receiving them, and how many discontinued their treatment due to adverse events. 

    Considering all the scuttlebutt and rumors that you can read about, it turned out that out of the 6630 patients, only 47 had to stop their treatment because of a side effect. (That’s means 0.7%.) Of those, 33 of the 47 had reported psychological distress during the treatment.

    Sometimes that can happen with dissociation. People with complex histories, lots of losses, tremendous trauma, and incredible emotional pain can sometimes experience distress or fear during a ketamine treatment session.

    With an IM treatment, absorption is quick and ketamine can peak quickly in the body — and it may be more challenging to manage distress. With IV treatment, the infusion can be stopped or slowed, or additional medication can be given rapidly to help quell the distress.

    This is why it’s so important for patients to be appropriately selected for this treatment, prepared for it–for what they might experience. And why it is so important that distress be recognized and attended to in the best possible way.

    In addition, Dr. Feifel reported that only 2 people experienced hypomania, which is 0.03%. No one became addicted to ketamine. No one suffered cognitive deficits as a result of the treatment. And only 1 person out of 6630 reported psychotic symptoms.

    As far as bladder symptoms…there were 3, or 0.06%. Let’s remember that some of these patients received ketamine far more than 20 times.

    And this may surprise you…

    About a quarter of the 6630 patients had 5 or less treatments.  But 42% received what’s considered the standard number of treatments: 6-10. And that left 1/3 of the 6630 who received over 10 treatments, with 7% of that 1/3 receiving over 20.

    So this population was well distributed to reveal the adverse effects in a few vs. a larger number of treatments.  

    The researchers noted that a study in South Korea on ketamine treatment for chronic pain used ketamine doses of 1mg/kg — higher than most in this study.  And that dose produced very few adverse events, with the treatment being considered very safe and tolerable.

    All in all, the adverse events seen with repeat ketamine treatments given IV or IM are pretty low risk. Of course we still have to be aware of all of the possible risks, and of all that we still don’t know about long-term side effects, especially about the incidence and severity of bladder symptoms. We are learning all the time — from our patients, our colleagues, and researchers around the world.

    And we learn from anecdotal experiences we read about of those who’ve used it on the street without medical supervision. 

    Dr. Feifel’s sorely needed report provides evidence about the safety of repeated parenteral (IV, IM) ketamine treatments. But even in those extremely rare situations where an adverse side effect occurred, we don’t know the particulars that may have contributed to it.

    But for many people who suffer treatment resistant depression or bipolar depression... or PTSD… and who look at the risks and benefits of a series of IV ketamine, the potential benefits often outweigh the risk of an adverse effect.

    Maybe that’s true for you, too.

    You deserve to have the power to live and enjoy your life.

    At Innovative Psychiatry, we’re uniquely equipped to keep you safe (and we’re working to do that even in the pandemic!). We welcome you into our treatment offices. Especially now you may need the freedom, relief, and extraordinary joy that ketamine infusions can provide.

    And if you, or your family or friends, want to know about the risks of repeated infusions in real world patients and real world outpatient settings, the data speaks for itself.

    And we’re always searching for more.

    Don’t miss the opportunity to feel like yourself… even if you haven’t been yourself for so long you don’t remember. You’ll recognize the real you when depression lifts and you are yourself again.

    Give yourself the chance to experience freedom, joy, and hope.

    If you believe ketamine treatment can help you, call us.

    We believe in who you can be.

    And we’re here to help you enjoy you again.

    Lori Calabrese, M.D. is on the front end of the race to stop PTSD in its tracks using IV ketamine treatment.

    To the restoration of your best self,

  • Men Who Seek Help for Their Mental Health are Leaders

    Men Who Seek Help for Their Mental Health are Leaders

    Reaching Out for Help — and Treatment — Is the Bravest and Healthiest Way to Make Your Life Count

    Masculine men seek help for mental heath which shows their leadership.

    We’ve talked before about stigma, and the fear you can have of doing or saying anything that would attach a stigma to you.

    Racism is in the news often in these times. It seems that being accused as a racist is one of the most dreaded accusations anyone can bear. And once that accusation is slung at someone, it’s hard to get out from under the the searing branding of it. 

    You don’t want to be a racist, and maybe even more, you don’t want to be SEEN as a racist. 

    In a similar way, there’s another label that gets slung around, and that’s “mentally ill” or “crazy” …  right? Here’s worse: weak.

    The stigma is painful.  The label hurts. Those slinging those stones are not usually qualified to have any idea of its truth.

    Just as the stigma of racism runs deep and its historical tendrils have insidiously reached all races, in all cities, and carried through generations, in a similar way the stigma of what people call “mental illness” has done the same.

    Also, just as neuroscientists have discovered more and more about what actually happens in the cells in the brain that result in a disorder, there is more and more information to fight stigma.

    Still, it exists. If you go to a psychiatrist to find out what can be done about the darkness, emptiness, despair you feel…will you lose your job? What about your family…Will they think you’re weak? How will your boss look at you…any differently? Will you have trouble getting insurance?

    Masculine men seek help for psychiatric disorders when they need it.

    Which is why it’s so important that men seek help when they need it. It shows they know what’s important.

    What are the risks?

    But if you need an intervention to pull you back from the precipice of despair, from thoughts of suicide … does that mean you’re weak? Or simply that you need treatment to restore you to your full functioning self?

    What about a celebrity athlete?  Should a famous athlete be respectfully treated so he can move forward and perform, or should he be shamed and stigmatized as if he’s not worthy of his position?

    But think about it. Truly independent, strong men seek help when they need it, whether to lift furniture, improve a skill, or check out something that doesn’t feel right. Like a pain in their heart. It’s as much about being a leader as it is about being well.

    Dak Prescott has been in the news because of something besides his role as a Dallas Cowboys quarterback. After his mother’s death from colon cancer in 2013, during which his brother Jace was a present support and helplessly watched her suffering, Jace took his own life in April of this year. 

    Dak has begun opening up about these tragedies, and about his own struggles with depression and anxiety through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    He spoke out in September about the importance of being vulnerable during difficult times, and reaching out for help, rather than trying to carry your pain silently inside.

    He knows that doing that can be lifesaving.

    Dak’s statements have opened up the dialogue again about men in masculine roles, and their difficulties in being honest and open to reach out for support and treatment.

    This is an area of extra stigma not only for the athletes, but for their fans and their announcers.

    The same can be said about other tough roles such as police and military. 

    And among the cultures in these careers, a true leader is too often believed to be one who doesn’t “allow” depression or panic. (As if we allow it, right?) And who certainly doesn’t need help … with anything. Or directions.

    And yet, people of all walks of life can suffer with psychiatric disorders.  Depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction. Hopelessness. They cut across all boundaries, all races, all cultures, all socioeconomic levels. They can creep in or hit you like a hurricane.

    It has nothing to do with courage, energy, personal strength, or leadership ability.  

    It hits all of us. Ourselves, or someone we know.

    Dak Prescott is joining with other male celebrities such as Dwayne Johnson, Michael Phelps, and Kevin Love, to encourage men to speak up, be honest and open about their struggles, talk about real things that matter, and embrace treatment when it’s needed. 

    They’re showing the world that strong men seek help when they need it, because that’s what leaders do.

    And that’s a very productive effort toward reducing stigma, to letting all men be real, to feel what they feel — and to be honest and courageous to talk about it and reach out for support.

    The beauty of it is that there is help to be found. 

    For depression, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, alcohol use disorder, and substance use disorder, IV ketamine treatment can make a robust and extraordinary transformation in your life over a few short weeks. Not for everyone, of course, but for many.

    It can also dramatically relieve bipolar depression, postpartum depression, and adolescent depression and help you achieve a kind of resilience you didn’t know you had in you. 

    The era of taking antidepressants for months and years hoping they’ll eventually help even when they don’t… is outdated. Because we have more to offer. So if what you’re doing isn’t working to help, it may be time to reach out and see what else is out there.

    Masculine men seek help with their mental health so they can be happy and enjoy life.

    At Innovative Psychiatry we see many men whose symptoms make them pretty miserable get back to their best selves after a few weeks of infusions… 

    And we’re set up to safely offer these infusions in the current COVID pandemic in our office in South Windsor, CT.

    Dak Prescott is a brave man, who has owned up to his feelings, pain, and struggle…and has reached out for help.

    He’s still a leader in his field.  A leader who’s setting an example for health. A man seeks help. It’s a leadership thing…like a CEO, or an athlete, or a governor. Men seek help because they know they can’t do it all. So they choose their help wisely.

    Do for yourself what Dak has done for himself. Connect with others who also struggle and seek support, and reach out for treatment here.

    Stigma about taking hold of what you need to live well is so 20th century. This is a new dawn, a new world, with new solutions.

    There is no weakness in reaching out to get what you need.

    We’re here to help you with that.

    Lori Calabrese, M.D. is on the front end of the race to stop PTSD in its tracks using IV ketamine treatment.

    To the restoration of your best self,

  • Recognize and Identify Depression and Seek Treatment

    Recognize and Identify Depression and Seek Treatment

    October is National Depression Awareness Month and October 8 is Depression Screening Day

    Recognize and identify depression symptoms with your friends and family so you can seek treatment.

    40 million US adults struggle with depression and/or anxiety. But not everyone who struggles recognizes they even have an identifiable or treatable condition, or that they need treatment. That’s why there are tools that you can use to help identify the symptoms and figure out if you might want to consider seeking treatment. This week, participate with people you love so you can recognize and identify depression. It can be lifesaving. For so many, it’s both. And like pedals propel the chain on a bicycle, depression and anxiety can just keep aggravating and perpetuating each other until you feel like you’re losing your footing.

    There was a time 20 years ago when society as a whole wasn’t aware of depression. There were all sorts of judgmental criticisms of those who suffered. So there is good reason to have a dedicated day — nationally — to draw attention to a condition that needs to be identified and treated.

    Apparently, it’s working, right?

    So let’s talk about screening.

    It’s important to know if you’ve just had a tiring day…or if you’re actually bearing the weight of a condition. Depression can present itself as mild to severe and anywhere in between.

    And while you may be able to get by with mild depression …in fact, you may be able to get through it with healthy activities, fresh air, good diet, and time to relax, severe depression probably is a sign you need treatment so you can function and recover.

    To recognize and identify depression in yourself or those you love is so much better than ignoring symptoms and behaviors you don’t understand.

    A screening tool measures – with your help – how you feel about your daily routine, about your energy, your sleep, your ability to concentrate, and your feelings about your life and future. 

    You can google “depression assessment tool” and take the little test to give you a somewhat objective impression. These tools are designed after a tool doctors use to help assess the severity of depressive symptoms called a PHQ-9.

    Of course, tools like this aren’t intended to take the place of  your psychiatrist, but using the tool informally may alert you to consider making an appointment.

    To take it the next step.

    Some people –you, maybe– have been moderately to severely depressed for so long, that your mood can lighten and you find your feel some relief but the screening tool still shows you’re moderately or moderately severely depressed. And it could be that you were actually severely depressed before you felt a lightening. 

    But with moderately or moderately severe depression, you should be under the care of a psychiatrist, to help you avoid a dangerous condition.

    if you feel terribly sad like this girl, recognize and identify depression symptoms so you can seek a psychiatrist.

    Remember, those tools can help you recognize your symptoms, get an idea of how severe they are and help you make a decision to see your doctor. Your psychiatrist will use a variety of screen tools, evolution, interview assessments, medical history, and more.

    So you need to know what to look for in adults, teens, and children, don’t you? 

    1. Do you feel empty? It may feel like sadness, or futility, too.

    2. Do you feel irritable..?  Do you find you’re just short tempered and easily agitated?

    3. Do you find you’re getting too thin, or maybe you’re suddenly gaining weight like crazy?

    4. Do you think about death, about dying, about yourself dying or someone else?  

    5. Is it hard to focus, concentrate, on your work, or a newspaper, or TV?


    As we stop to think about awareness and education toward recognizing depression in others, and offering support, there are some points we can celebrate as being positives that seem to come from depression.    

    For example, you may not realize that people who have suffered from depression tend to have more capacity for treating others with compassion. They often find they are less judgmental and have more capacity for understanding in what other suffer in life, and this is interesting: 

    They tend to be more analytical. 

    So they can break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts than those who haven’t experienced depression, and they often actually perform better on certain tests.

    Interesting, isn’t it?

    Still, what’s far more interesting is to utilize ways to recognize and identify depression so you can do something about it. To find the treatment that will restore, refresh, and help you feel good again.

    Antidepressants

    While it’s true that 35-60% of the people who have been diagnosed with depression respond to the first or second trial of oral antidepressants, there are about 35% who don’t respond to anything. 

    These cases are often among the most severe, and many have considered their depression to be treatment resistant. (The depression is treatment-resistant — not the person!) You can imagine why many attempts to receive effective treatment over months, years, even decades can result in feelings of futility.

    This guy is feeling despair, and needs to recognize and identify his depression symptoms and seek treatment.

    But in the last decade or so, IV ketamine treatment has become such a rapid and effective alternative treatment, that many have come to consider it their treatment of choice when nothing else has worked.

    Let me be clear though, that no one treatment is the treatment of choice for all depressed patients.

    Even so, even among that 35% who haven’t found help with other medicines or treatments, IV ketamine treatment can be effective. 

    “Effective” means that you could respond. Even better, “effective” means that you could REMIT.

    Picture remission like this…energy to meet friends for lunch and really enjoy your time with them, resilience to perform well at work and excel in your job, to bounce back from disappointment, and to build strong healthy relationships.

    And there’s more. Suicidal thinking is a life-threatening symptom of severe depression. IV Ketamine is also an extraordinary treatment to stop suicidal thoughts.

    Our study on ketamine’s effectiveness to stop suicidal thinking in the office in our patients with depression demonstrates ketamine’s potential for this life threatening symptom in a real world population of real people with complicated histories and hard lives. It can prevent that trip to the ER. It can help avoid a hospitalization.

    Ketamine Suicidality

    Our patients commonly go through ketamine treatment in our office over a couple weeks — and many emerge feeling wonderful. Ready to take on challenges, with the sparkle to be contribute, work with others, and be creative.

    Take care of your family to recognize and identify depression symptoms if they emerge.

    At Innovative Psychiatry, trying to do our best to help you and your family hasn’t stopped or slowed down because of the coronavirus pandemic. We continue to improve our protocols and technology for maintaining a safe environment for you.

    If you struggle with depression and have not found effective treatment, call us.

    Get with your loved ones and screen for depression this week. Reach out and take steps to recognize and identify depression in yourself or loved ones.

    And if you’ve suffered from unimproved depression, or if you find you’re thoughts filled with death images or plans, call us. 

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

    Sometimes the only person who can take care of you is you. Take care of yourself and reach out for help when you need it.

    There really is hope available so you, your fulfillment, and your future.

    We’re want to help you find relief from the emptiness, the despair, the futility, and instead experience the joy of living a rewarding life.

    Lori Calabrese, M.D. is on the front end of the race to stop PTSD in its tracks using IV ketamine treatment.

    To the restoration of your best self,

    We can all help prevent suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

    The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 Press 1

    Crisis Text Line: 741-741 Free text hotline 24/7

  • Does Problematic Drinking Follow You Around Damaging Your Credibility?

    Does Problematic Drinking Follow You Around Damaging Your Credibility?

    New study reveals extensive genetic links not only to alcohol use disorder, but also problematic drinking without physical dependence

    Problematic drinking follows you and can damage your credibility.

    Brandon caught his breath and stopped.  He looked around him.  Where am I … and how did I get here? He was surrounded in pitch blackness. Couldn’t see a street light, not even moonlight. He realized he’d been walking at a fast pace, but where from? And where was he going? He remembered nothing, knew nothing, except this very moment. He felt terrible, and realized with horror he was about to be sick… After retching up his insides, the odor of undigested alcohol wafted from the ground. Then it all made sense. He’d had a lot of alcohol, apparently. Again. Problematic drinking follows you around just waiting to trip you up, he thought. He gingerly tried to move forward on ground that was shifting like a rough sea to find his way home. He wondered how long he’d been gone, and whether he’d hurt anyone… or broken any laws. It was torture no knowing.

    Creeping forward, slowly, reaching in front of him to find something to steady himself, his hand touched something cold and solid like concrete or stone. As he followed what felt like a long wall, Brandon eventually emerged into the open where there were street lights, and the moon was shining brightly.

    He looked behind him and realized he’d been in some sort of tunnel. A police car drove by and he instinctively hid. He had no idea what he’d done — and whether they were looking for him. But it was the not knowing that made him afraid. 

    Does problematic drinking follow you even though you know you can avoid alcohol if you want to?

    Shame, Humiliation, Fear

    This was all too familiar. Finding himself lost. No memory of where he’d been. Staggering to find his way home. 

    Brandon woke up in an alley. His shame and self-loathing sucked all courage out of him. Self respect always eluded him. The sun was up and he could find out where he was and get home. But, what then? His wife would be so furious. Why was he like this? 

    He just wanted to die.

    Genetic Links When Problematic Drinking Follows You Around Like a Stray Cat

    Neuroscientists have explored the genetic links to problematic alcohol use for many years. But more recently, a research team lead by Joel Gelemter, M.D., conducted a study published in Nature Neuroscience that included over 435,000 subjects (and of those, 200,000 came from MVP — the VA’s Million Veteran Program). Their paper found nearly 3 times the locations (they call them “loci”) in the human genome that seem to correlate to critically increased risk of problematic drinking.

    As you know, we refer to the pathological use of alcohol as alcohol use disorder. These neuroscientists use the term “problematic alcohol use” in a similar context that includes those with alcohol use disorder, as well as those who are not physically depending on it or, as some say, addicted to it, but when they do use alcohol, it results in problems in their lives or those around them.

    Both of these conditions interfere with your life, your work, and your relationships. 

    For generations, people like Brandon were judged “irresponsible” or “weak.” But the more we learn about your brain and your DNA, the more we come to understand how complex these conditions are.

    Neuroscientists explore the genetic links for problematic drinking.

    Your genes determine the color of your eyes, your skin, your hair… they determine your height, your natural talents, whether you like chocolate or cilantro, the pitch and clarity of your voice.

    They also lay a road map for the likelihood you’ll struggle with asthma, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder…and yes, problematic alcohol use. Just as you would be cruel to criticize or judge a person by the color of a their skin or their eyes, it’s also cruel to judge their propensity for one of these disorders.

    That’s why so much work is being done to better understand what people deal with regarding alcohol use. Problematic drinking can follow you and seem to never let go.

    Research Reveals Links Between Problematic Drinking and Tobacco Use, Depression

    Knowing the details of the links between DNA and problematic drinking  doesn’t solve the problem, but it helps us know how to approach treatment. 

    For instance, this massive study revealed DNA connections with other related traits like tobacco-use disorder and substance abuse disorders.  Since the human genome is 3 billions pairs of “letters”, they learned that even a single variation in one single “letter” impact these disorders. 

    Tough to wrap your head around it, isn’t it?

    Long story short: problematic drinking can be related to tobacco use, schizophrenia, ADHD, and depression. 

    The study also revealed that about half your risk for problematic drinking is inherited, which can help us understand why willpower sometimes just isn’t enough to gain control of pathological drinking.

    And while there is no panacea, no 100% perfect and effective treatment for all these disorders and conditions, there are things you can do, treatments you can reach out for, that can help restore your freedom.

    Ketamine treatment, for instance, can slow down your drinking after just one infusion. And if depression or social anxiety is fueling your drinking, ketamine treatment can lift those symptoms so remarkably, you can achieve remission.  

    Ketamine treatment can remove the desire for problematic drinking.

    We’ve talked about alcohol use disorder, and today we’re including problematic alcohol use. But if you want life to be different, and to have the freedom to build a rewarding life, you may be a good candidate to see if ketamine treatment can help.

    If problematic drinking follows you around, turning a social gathering into a nightmare for you, there’s hope. Maybe you don’t believe you have a disorder, maybe a 12 step program doesn’t seem like a good fit.

    But several infusions of ketamine within a few weeks could be just the thing to give you back control in your life.

    Reach Out for Change and Freedom

    At Innovative Psychiatry, we see people who want balance in their lives, who want to restore their self respect and credibility. People who suffer from alcohol use disorder, and those who just have bouts of problematic drinking that strain the foundations they’ve worked hard to build.

    And we see these people marvel at the benefits they’ve experienced from ketamine treatment. Some completely lose their desire to drink alcohol at all, others find their interest in a drink dissipates halfway through it. And if they also suffer from depression, PTSD, or even suicidal thoughts… they can leave our office after treatment feeling restored.

    Do the struggles we’ve talked about sound familiar? Call us.

    That problematic drinking with genetic links may be treatable. Reach out for help to get your life back in order.

    We’re here to help, and offer ketamine treatment safely in our office.

    Give yourself the opportunity to live really well.

    Lori Calabrese, M.D. is on the front end of the race to stop PTSD in its tracks using IV ketamine treatment.

    To the restoration of your best self,

  • Prepare Your Family to Respond to the Risk of Adolescent Suicide

    Prepare Your Family to Respond to the Risk of Adolescent Suicide

    September is National Suicide Prevention Month And Adolescents Have the Highest Risk

    So let’s look at adolescent suicidal behavior. If you have an adolescent in your family, you may not be able to even imagine your child contemplating suicide. Or, if your child visits a psychiatrist regularly for a disorder, you may worry that he considers death or dying, and you may privately feel terrified about it. But, it’s ok to ask. Have you? This is not a taboo subject, and since risk of adolescent suicide is so much greater than it is for adults, it’s a subject to be discussed openly in every family.

    Did you know that about half of all teens who attempt suicide for the first time die? 50%! It’s so alarming. How can you prepare yourself, and more importantly, prepare your child, if you had no idea she was thinking about it?

    Brain and Behavior Research Foundation funds dedicated suicide researchers across the globe who seek to learn as much as possible about suicidal behavior in youths. And that gives you an edge over parents a generation ago. By studying teens who consider death, dying, and ending their own lives, these researchers have been learning ways to help you make your child at least somewhat safer.

    And of course we want to do those things that can interrupt a self-destructive plan…to make time for treatment, relief, and hope.

    Because one thing about adolescents is that they can be unpredictable, impulsive, impetuous, and lack emotional regulation — even when they’re healthy and having a normal day!

    But, when a teen is struggling with a disorder, when his or her emotions are all over the map and something has happened that seems irreparable to him, or when he finds himself in crisis and can see no way through it, he can make an irreversible decision that silences his options.

    Of course there are some teenagers who never consider self destruction.  Some whose sense of survival is strong and immovable.  And if you were that kind of youth yourself, you may not be able to grasp that your own teen could be different…might think there is no way out, might think that he has no other option.

    Did you know that the risk for suicidal behavior in an adolescent is about 100 times higher than it is for an adult?

    It’s true.

    And because of this, as a parent you can’t presume this risk doesn’t apply to your family. So it can be so helpful to have some ideas about what to look for. 

    You need to be informed and alert enough to watch for signs that your youth could be at risk for suicidal thoughts or behaviors. 

    There are screening programs for uncovering risks in your youth, more sophisticated programs than charts you fill out on paper. Machine learning has been developed that collect more detailed information. 

    These researchers have learned that 10.7% of those who die by suicide visited the Emergency Department within the last 2 weeks. 

    And this will surprise you…  

    Their reason for the ED visit is not about suicidal thoughts…but other complaints, like chronic medical illness like diabetes or asthma, aches and pains in their body, assault, head injury, alcohol or drug intoxication, or because they are using the ED as a primary care clinic.

    This is so important

    It’s important because it’s during these visits for physical maladies that patients can be screened for suicidal behavior risk. 

    Just think about it… when someone you love attempts suicide or dies by suicide, and you realize they visited the ED 10 days earlier, how could you not want to throw your hands up? 

    As parents, keep this aspect of your adolescent front of mind for all medical treatment, and if you have concern that your child may be considering dying, ask for help. 

    Parents do the best we know, but do reach out for medical help, psychiatric evaluation, and diagnosis. 

    More thoughts that may surprise you:

    These conditions may predispose your youth for suicidal behavior:

    If they’ve attempted suicide before

    (And remember, 50% of teens who attempt suicide die on the first try)

    If they have problems sleeping
    Or, if there is marital conflict in the home
    If they have a tattoo  

    (Remember, not everyone who has a tattoo is at risk for suicide, but a large percentage of those who consider or attempt suicide DO have tattoos. So consider that if your child wants a tattoo that it’s not unreasonable to explore whether he may have pain he hasn’t talked about.)

    Also, if they have been imprisoned (again, a source of pain)
    Of course, if they have a mood disorder
    And pay attention if they use negative words commonly that are associated with death, dying, evil, darkness, self-hatred, etc. Because this is also a risk factor.

    Use of positive words like happy, joy, sunny, sunshine are not typically part of the vocabulary of a teen at high risk for suicidal behaviors.

    Risk of adolescent suicide drives us to prevent it using a Safety Plan.

    Create a Safety Plan

    Finally, when you do have risk of adolescent suicide in your family, participate with your youth’s healthcare team, therapist, and psychiatrist to create with your child a Safety Plan together. Identify those triggers that can increase distress and work together to find those things that can decrease it. 

    The effectiveness of the plan you form relies on the involvement of all involved, and your child’s willingness to help and respond.

    And then, in the case of an unexpected suicidal young person, for whom you have no prepared plan, you can start by helping him or her call:

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

    With all that said, remember there is an option available as a part of your safety plan that can intervene without hospitalization or a trip to the Emergency Department.

    Ketamine treatment can has been so remarkable in its ability to stop suicidal thoughts in a few hours or less. It can stop them. Erase them. 

    And when that happens, it gives you the freedom to work on getting better. Because the crisis can pass.

    This is so extraordinary that I conducted and published a retrospective chart review on a patients I’ve treated — with complicated stories, real life issues, lots of different symptoms, and the suffering that happens when treatment doesn’t work, with such promising results that I’ve had the opportunity to share what I learned with colleagues across the US and in the UK.

    Ketamine Suicidality

    Ketamine treatment can rapidly replace thoughts of death and dying with hope to give you the opportunity to work toward getting better, and even remission.

    Risk of adolescent suicide is frightening, but prevention gives a child her life to live.

    At Innovative Psychiatry, we offer ketamine treatment to people as young as 14, in a safe environment during this pandemic. We see teens and adults improve dramatically every week. Not all—some teens and adults don’t respond—but many experience complete remission from their symptoms.

    Risk of adolescent suicide is high. It’s the second leading cause of death in persons age 15-24.

    If you or your teen suffers from symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts or behaviors, reach out or text one of the support hotlines, or call us if you would like to consider ketamine treatment to stop those thoughts.

    We understand all too well how these symptoms can not only disrupt — but endanger — your life, and we want to help. Seeing you experience relief from your pain, torment, and suffering is why we get up in the morning.

    Your desire to pursue a fulfilling and rewarding life is your fundamental human need, and we want to help that happen for you.

    Reach out for remission.

    Lori Calabrese, M.D. is on the front end of the race to stop PTSD in its tracks using IV ketamine treatment.

    To the restoration of your best self,

    We can all help prevent suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

    The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 Press 1

    Crisis Text Line: 741-741 Free text hotline 24/7

  • Don’t Be Shy – Talk to Someone Suicidal Because You Might Save a Life

    Don’t Be Shy – Talk to Someone Suicidal Because You Might Save a Life

    This is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week — Be aware and reach out.

    And while you may never have talked with someone who’s considering suicide, it’s likely you will at some point. Just as we need to refresh our CPR skills periodically, it’s important to refresh skills to talk to someone suicidal. It’s easy to brush off the risk as something dramatic like someone preparing to jump off a bridge. But the truth is, the guy in the next cubicle or the doctor you work with or a lady you see crying in the restroom — any of them could be struggling with suicidal thoughts.

    How often have you heard people say, “he had everything to live for,” or “he seemed like such a happy guy” or “she was so much fun.” Everyone’s baffled. And yet, obviously, it wasn’t all what it seemed. But maybe nobody asked.

    Most of the time, when someone reaches the point of considering suicide, it happens somewhat quietly. Thoughts of death and dying begin to creep into and then crowd their thoughts, but if you don’t ask, they may carry through on their thoughts without giving away their plans.

    You have to ask.

    Because, truth be told, we want to prevent suicide, don’t we? I know there are those who say that a person has the right to decide when he wants his life to end. But it’s a fallacy to assume that. Because those who have the clarity to make such a decision rationally, are the exception — not the rule.

    In most cases, suicide attempts and completed suicides are the result of a desperate desire to “not live like this anymore.”  It’s the result of desolate misery and finding no other option. 

    But there ARE options. For most people, if you can give them a way to live that’s joyful, productive, and rewarding without the incessant pain they endure, they would opt-out of death and choose a life that’s enjoyable and full of hope.

    And it’s for that reason we want to prevent suicide. 

    To give this suffering person a chance to live well. In a moment we’ll talk more about that. But for now, let’s focus on how to prevent a useless tragedy.

    So what can you do?

    Be AWARE that there are hurting people around you.  We all have busy lives and plenty of pressures, and it’s easy to be absorbed in our own pressures and worries and completely miss the guy we talk to every day who has actually reached the end of his endurance.

    So develop the habit of asking.

    Ask the people in your world how they’re doing, and listen to their response. Pay attention and show them that it really matters to you. This is paramount and is the primary way to find out if someone who crosses your path needs your help. Convey that you mean it.

    “How you doing, Jack?  No…I mean really.  How are you doing?”

    When you show that you’re not impatiently trying to give the expected greeting so they’ll disappear, but that you do truly care deeply how they are, you’re more likely to get real answers.

    And little by little, you’ll become known as someone who really cares, and someone a person could actually talk to. Which is why you want to talk to someone suicidal, because your caring could possibly be life saving for them.

    Understand that a person who is this depressed, or this desperate, has probably become isolated. And that’s a very lonely place. 

    To break that isolation, reach into it and show you care. One of the most powerful things you can do to prevent suicide is to be a friend to someone who’s isolated. Listen to them, spend time with them. BREAK the isolation.

    Feeling utterly alone in the world is part and parcel to the anatomy of suicidal thoughts. And remember, you can be utterly alone in a crowded room.

    Make Them Safe

    So what do you do if you talk to someone suicidal..? Start  by removing weapons from their environment, if you can.  Remove knives from the kitchen, guns from their house, maybe even the car keys. And don’t leave them alone. Find a friend or relative they trust to stay with them. Help to make their living environment a safe place.

    Also, do all you can to remove medications and alcohol from their household. Your purpose is not to control their life, but to provide safety while you find a way to give them hope.

    Then tell someone. One of their friends or family. Someone you can trust who will be with them, help them feel understood and supported.

    And talk with them about treatment.  About someone who can help them weather this storm and find new hope and new options to help them live.

    This is why you talk to someone suicidal.

    Help them find it.  Give them some good ideas for professional therapists. Because their life is more important than their crisis. It really can get better.

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

    Especially with the help of ketamine. Know that ketamine treatment can erase suicidal thoughts in a few hours…or even less.  That those horrific thoughts and images can be eradicated with the astounding effects of ketamine treatment.

    And that amazing benefit can give them the chance at life they wish they had had before…and give them the opportunity to find relief, restoration, and remission from depression and suicidal thinking.

    So there may very well be a solution. But how will they know unless you talk to someone suicidal and tell them? Suicidal thoughts are not limited by age, income, or any demographic. Children are susceptible, doctors and nurses are, investors and teachers are, your co-workers are.

    There is an alarming increase in suicide among doctors. No one is immune. So reach out and talk. And listen.

    At Innovative Psychiatry, we take suicidal thoughts very seriously. We offer ketamine treatment for suicidal thoughts and are thrilled to see the freedom from torment ketamine can provide. Someone whose life is at risk — high risk — because their thoughts are bombarded with death, dying, and ending their own lives, can walk out of our office relieved, hopeful, and grateful that those thoughts are gone.

    Ketamine treatment can be transformative, not just for suicidal thinking but also for the symptoms of depression, despair, substance use disorders including alcohol, PTSD, and anxiety. We share the joy of our patients as they walk out with hope and in remission.

    Not always, of course, and not everyone. Ketamine treatment is not a cure-all for everyone. No treatment is.

    But is may be what helps you when nothing else has. It may be what finally puts your symptoms into remission. If you yearn for the benefits ketamine can provide, call us. 

    We want to see you enjoying your life with hope and freedom from torment. Life can be rewarding and productive for you. Relationships can be strong and fulfilling. 

    Reach out for hope. We’re here to help.

    Lori Calabrese, M.D. is on the front end of the race to stop PTSD in its tracks using IV ketamine treatment.

    To the restoration of your best self,

    We can all help prevent suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

    The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 Press 1

    Crisis Text Line: 741-741 Free text hotline 24/7

  • COVID Hassles Annoying? Ketamine Can Help You Embrace Living Again

    COVID Hassles Annoying? Ketamine Can Help You Embrace Living Again

    COVID-19 – Growing number of people suffer from anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts who’ve never faced mental health issues before.

    We’ve talked about it before, but the numbers are growing. Quarantine, masks and gloves, working from home, kids schooling at home, social distancing, Zoom meetings. It’s not just the change in routine, it’s the feeling of isolation, of needing a break. Sometimes you just want to go out to eat on Friday night…right? But with businesses closed, you can’t. Cabin fever with tired parents, kids bouncing off the walls… where do you go to get refreshed? With COVID hassles annoying, ketamine can help you break through and enjoy your life again.

    You wanna hang out with the girls, paint a picture, drink wine, and chat till the cows come home. But you can’t.

    Or go to the gym every morning and work out your frustrations, break a sweat… and go home loose and ready for the day. But the gyms aren’t open.

    2020 has been a tough year. A year you won’t likely forget. 

    Of course, if you’ve gotten sick with this coronavirus, that’s its own battle. But for those who have dutifully worn their masks, stayed home and attended Zoom meetings all day without being infected, there is still a risk caused by the stress of confinement and isolation.

    And it’s serious enough that far too many people have succumbed and faced psychiatric disorders for the first time in their lives. 

    A poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 45% of those who responded to the poll in April 2020 stated their mental health had suffered during COVID. That was 10% more than the previous month.

    COVID hassles annoying? Ketamine can erase suicidal thoughts.

    Social isolation in adolescents increases fear and worry,  which create their own type of stress, wearing down coping skills. Too often, those worry cycles plunge to suicidal thoughts, and the desire to escape the misery.

    Seniors are also at increased risk. Those who are shut-ins rely on loved ones for the stimulation, interaction, and camaraderie to keep their outlook bright. Without those regular visits, hopelessness can quickly wear down their purpose and resilience.

    Common Sense Says Isolation Takes a Toll

    This is not to BLAME the pandemic, but to recognize that people all around us need a lift these days.  Every bit of interaction is restorative for the speaker and for the listener… or both.

    It’s one thing to show compassion to those who have suffered from mental health disorders all their lives, because it’s certainly true that each of you need extra support through these times.

    But, isn’t it alarming to realize so many people have been so negatively impacted by the pandemic, with all its inconveniences and isolation, that they’ve used up their coping ability and have also succumbed to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts?

    So let’s look at this more closely.

    True, this pandemic has caused annoying inconveniences, some more difficult to bear than others. But we can’t go back in time, can we?  We can’t undo the release of this virus, its spread around the world, the cost to families, the economy, and our general well-being.

    COVID Hassles Annoying – Ketamine Can Restore Resilience

    At the same time, we don’t have to break under its influence, right?

    In times like these, mastering the art of bending, adapting to circumstances, can keep you feeling like you actually ARE in control.

    That means if you’re accustomed to traveling on a whim, and you’re not so free to do that right now, you can shudder and fume at the frustration; or you can set travel aside for a better time and choose something new and accessible for your stimulation and reward now.

    Covid hassles annoying? Learn to draw and paint and enjoy yourself.

    An IT guy built his own igloo shaped pizza oven in his backyard. Never laid a brick in his life. But he invented a new interest and poured himself into it. And in so doing, kept anxiety and depression at bay.

    It was a whole new adventure for him… that began with a new and surprising thought. 

    A school bus driver had no students to drive on her bus since students were learning online from home. So she dove into art development tutorials, and mastered skills in drawing beautiful, life-like animals. 

    Pandemic? What pandemic??  She was having too much fun to notice.

    Adapting means changing course to accommodate changing circumstances.

    That’s not to say these responses are always successful. But they are, more often that not.

    On the other hand, warding off symptoms of anxiety and depression by inventing new stimulating interests, honing new skills, or finding new forms of entertainment, are sometimes not enough.

    There are those who know these principles, but in this atmosphere found symptoms of anxiety, depression, and despair creeped over them in spite of their efforts to escape.

    Sometimes that happens.

    Sometimes listlessness takes over, with severely reduced energy, a bleak outlook, hopelessness, and a lost sense of your own worth.

    Which can make way for thoughts of dying. Thoughts that there’s nowhere to go from here. Thoughts that you’ve spent all you have to give, you’re depleted, and your life is finished.

    And those thoughts can become dangerous for you.

    If you find that the thoughts of death, dying, and despair are prevalent for you, there is help.

    COVID hassles annoying – ketamine treatment can erase suicidal thoughts

    As much as we talk about ketamine treatment demonstrating extraordinary responses in those who are depressed, or suffer from PTSD, or substance abuse, or even anorexia nervosa, it’s also remarkable in its prowess for erasing suicidal thoughts.

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

    Suicidal thoughts can be plaguing you to desperation, then an infusion of ketamine can make those thoughts disappear in a few hours. 

    Life saving.

    Astounding.

    It’s so dramatic that I published a retrospective chart review of my own patients in my large practice.

    Ketamine Suicidality

    This treatment can erase those thoughts without hospitalization or emergency department visits, and give you the freedom to safely get better and enjoy life again.

    At Innovative Psychiatry, we treat patients with ketamine treatment for depression, social anxiety, PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and substance use disorder. And we also treat suicidal thoughts for their own sake.

    COVID hassles annoying? Ketamine can erase suicidal thoughts.

    If keeping yourself diverted, seeking new stimulation and developing new interests to get through these times with healthy hope stops working… if you feel yourself sinking into a sense of loss, confusion, despair, call us.

    We can help you find joy again. Invigoration instead of despondency.

    And if you feel like you don’t want to live, please call us. 

    With ketamine treatment, you can be free of those thoughts and feelings, and find them replaced with hope and rewards in life.

    Lori Calabrese, M.D. is on the front end of the race to stop PTSD in its tracks using IV ketamine treatment.

    To the restoration of your best self,

    We can all help prevent suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

    The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 Press 1

    Crisis Text Line: 741-741 Free text hotline 24/7

  • The New Molecular Masterclass Ketamine Conference – Online!

    The New Molecular Masterclass Ketamine Conference – Online!

    Ketamine continues to move forward.

    This NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine, was studied in treatment of major psychiatric disorders during the first decade of 2020. Certainly, as these studies galvanized physicians to offer ketamine treatment in their offices, its use has become more and more widespread, the studies continue, and ketamine as a breakthrough treatment for psychiatric disorders and pain is gaining maturity. This online gathering is the first of its kind… a new Molecular Masterclass Ketamine Conference that explored the ketamine molecule inside and out.

    In 2018, we enjoyed the first meeting of the American Society of Ketamine Physicians. Plus, the year before, we enjoyed the burgeoning interest and excitement of KRIYA. Patients who suffer treatment resistant psychiatric disorders need what ketamine can do. So, physicians and researchers energetically work to learn all they can to meet that need.

    Organizer of Molecular Masterclass ketamine conference.

    This year, August 21 and 22, marked the first Ketamine Molecular Masterclass (what a cool title!). Organized by our friend and colleague in psychiatry, Jeffrey Becker, MD, CEO of Bexson Biomedical.

    The presence of this event on the calendar speaks to the advancements of ketamine treatment and its growing sophistication. The conference was sponsored by Bexson Biomedical and other cosponsors to show the potential benefits of ketamine in patient care, research, and investments.

    If you remember, we first talked about Dr. Becker at the International Conference on Ketamine for Psychiatric Disorders that took place in Oxford, England in 2018. He’s presented at KRIYA Conference several times and at ASKP 2018 and 2019 conferenc. He’s a player. A leader. And an innovator. He hit the trifecta!

    Leaders In Ketamine Science

    Experts in the field — clinicians, researchers, digital tech wizards, marketers and investors shared their perspective and experience for all to digest. Clearly, this conference made it clear ketamine treatment is no longer an experimental and untrusted anomaly.

    Happily, with two decades of studies and experience, innovators are moving it forward. This new molecular masterclass ketamine conference educated, enlightened, and inspired us. It piqued the curiosity of participants, and excited interested in furthering research and development in this new space.

    Ya shoulda been there!

    But if you weren’t able to zoom in on us, the MasterClass was recorded and you can access it through Microdose, the host.

    So let’s stay real. Ketamine treatment isn’t a panacea and it isn’t perfect, as we know. We haven’t found a treatment or medicine that is, actually. So, one of the goals of this conference was to present information about possibilities, pitfalls, medical concerns, delivery gaps, and medical/legal issues.

    From psychiatrists, anesthesiologists, and other practitioners, to neuroscientists, business men seeking new streams of revenue, and investors jumping in on new leads, the vibe on this online gathering was charged with excitement.

    For instance, speakers grouped into vibrant panels to explain one aspect or another of this budding industry.

    They talked about treating depression. Then compared the clinical dissociative and psychedelic effects of ketamine during treatment compared to the classical psychedelics associated with 5HT2a receptor responses. They elaborated on how music can shape and affect treatment…

    With each new panel, we saw a sort of fruit basket turnover. We were always hearing from a new group of experts, with the opportunity for chat on the side.

    Truly, with the social distancing of 2020 and all that has gone with it, an online molecular masterclass ketamine conference pumped us with a breath of fresh air. We were packed full of information, inspiration, and hope.

    A grand parade of highly respected and beloved leaders like David Feifel, M.D., PhD, Wes Ryan, M.D., and Will Van Derveer, M.D. were added to talk about the differences in bolus doses of IM ketamine and IV ketamine given over time. Furthermore, they also talked about whether the benefits of ketamine treatment are as rapid as people say…

    The Technical Side of Ketamine Innovations

    We heard from the founders of Osmind and Maya in a panel moderated by Steve Best, M.D., in combining ketamine with TMS and talked about what we need to do and discussed how data can drive change, and drive payors to pay for this treatment

    Ketamine Suicidality

    I had the opportunity to touch on my own data using ketamine to stop suicidal thoughts in the office and avoid ER visits and hospitalization. (Aetna, are you listening?)

    And I snuck in a reference to our most recent case report of a new sequenced treatment using a metabolic diet and IV ketamine. This produced rapid (and startling!) remission and recovery in a young woman with severe chronic anorexia.

    Next came Gregg Petersen, MOD, Daniel Richman, M.D., Nadiv Samimi, M.D., and Jennifer Winegarden, D.O. They talked about pain management with ketamine, and explained answers to a myriad of questions regarding pain management.

    A fine panel elaborated on the use of ketamine for PTSD. Brent Turnipseed, M.D., Tatiana Santini, Jesse Gould, Jon Wolfe, and Abid Nazeer, M.D.

    If you can imagine, there were more than 40 impressive speakers and thought leaders. They spoke on pharmacology issues, business related issues, the risks involved with ketamine, training programs, new developments using ketamine for post-operative pain and more.

    We’ve come a long way in our quest to develop the many therapies ketamine can provide. To see businessmen and investors stepping up to the plate along side physicians and therapists.

    Wow.

    Connecting the people who need the hope ketamine can provide with the treatment itself is just gratifying and thrilling. Just Wow.

    These are people who make things happen.

    And that comes back to helping you. Do you suffer from symptoms or a psychiatric disorder that medicines and treatments haven’t helped?

    At Innovative Psychiatry, we get up every morning to help people like you with this extraordinary treatment.

    And we assure you, we continue to use the safest protocols during this pandemic to protect you and our staff so you can receive the treatment you need. Just call us.

    Conferences only have value if we bring the knowledge home … if people can get better as a result, one person at a time.

    So, let this week be your week. You can feel better, function better, overflow with hope, joy, and fulfillment, living with gusto the rewarding life you have ached for.

    Let us help you get better.

    Lori Calabrese, M.D. is on the front end of the race to stop PTSD in its tracks using IV ketamine treatment.

    To the restoration of your best self,

  • School’s Starting: How’s Your Teen Now? Watch for Anger, Depression, Anxiety

    School’s Starting: How’s Your Teen Now? Watch for Anger, Depression, Anxiety

    School is starting for the 2020-21 school year, whether remotely or on campus. 

    Never before have these students started a new school year during a pandemic. It’s been over 100 years since the last one, and few of those students are still alive. But these students, yours and mine, are pioneers now.  School’s starting, how’s your teen coping with what lies ahead? They’re facing a new school year with social distancing, mask wearing, frequent hand washing… and they’re also facing new subjects, anxiety about whether the pressure will be too much, whether they’re up for the task… and they’re concerned about socializing.

    Some have already started.  The desks are six feet apart, they’re wearing masks.  And they feel uncertain. Shy… afraid they’ll do something wrong. Others are afraid of the long hours at their desks… Because those need movement and stimulation.  They’re afraid of consequences.

    Some of our students will take whatever changes they face in stride. Those are the adaptable ones. But others won’t.. because change causes them to suffer anxiety. 

    While, as a parent,  you may be eagerly awaiting school to start so you can get those kids back into school, since you may have had them home since March.

    But, make sure you’re in tune with them. Listen to their fears and don’t dismiss them. No matter how you feel about what’s happening in the world, your teen may not be equipped to handle the early adjustments of this new experience.

    Because here’s the thing… stress, especially long term continuous stress, can lead to circuitry damage in their brain cells…and that damage can result in depression. 

    Stress Damages. In Fact, It Can Kill.

    In a teen, depression doesn’t usually come with a label written across their forehead.  

    It may look like anger or rebellion. It may look like laziness. It may look like stubbornness.

    And symptoms like these are actually depression, PTSD, bipolar depression, substance abuse, social anxiety, suicidal thoughts…  and if it is, it may need treatment.

    Because these conditions create their own fallout, like poor grades, inappropriate behavior, non-compliance…

    Then, without proper and EFFECTIVE treatment, the condition can deteriorate to criminal behavior…or even suicide.

    Suicide is the 3rd cause of death among teens. 

    Did you know?

    If your teen talks about wanting to die, listen.

    Adolescents are emotional, their hormones rage, and they sometimes seem to be all over the map. 

    But listen to them with respect. 

    Because you need to watch… since school’s starting: How’s your teen doing?

    Parents of teens who have ended their own lives will be the first to say that dismissing these claims was a mistake. But in retrospect they realized their child had been crying for help for a long time.

    Is a “cry for help” really just manipulation?

    No…a cry for help is a plea for HELP. And what seems to you to be a solvable, transient struggle – or growing pains – to your teen may seem like the end of the world. 

    Don’t let it be. 

    Now, it can get tricky.

    If your adolescent has never been diagnosed with a disorder, you may not realize his disorder is escalating.  A fellow psychiatrist tells the story of seeing a 14 year-old he’d known since he was born as a family friend.

    During the intake evaluation, he finds out the boy has been deeply subdued, without joy, extremely shy, and having difficulty making himself participate in school work.  He looks at the parents and asks, Why am I just now hearing about this??

    Truth be told, if the boy’s parents had perceived psychiatric care in the same category as dental care, he would have. But, they’d never dealt with a disorder in the family before and didn’t know how to identify it. They tried more structure, more emotional support, more consequences… until one evening they found him in the fetal position in the shadows…and realized they needed help.

    Your heart goes out to that fellow. 

    And it goes out to his parents, too.

    Because they loved him and wanted him to be happy. They just didn’t recognize the signs.

    What about you?

    School's starting: how's your teen

     And what about your teen?

    Would you know the signs if your teen displayed the need for help?

    Are you sure?  His life may depend on it.  

    So think about this:

    Has your son or daughter suffered a severe loss like a crippling humiliation,  a lost relationship, or death of someone close…?

    What about substances like drugs or alcohol…?

    Has he or she been depressed for a long time? Has treatment helped?  Because if it hasn’t, it’s the same as no treatment at all.

    Has he or she ever been abused physically, emotionally, or verbally? Are you sure?

    Does he or she suffer from a dual diagnosis, like bipolar depression and substance use disorder, or depression and anxiety, or PTSD and alcohol use disorder..?

    Has there ever been a suicide attempt before?

    Has there been an arrest before?

    These are all risk factors for potential suicide attempt or completion.  Any of these indicate the need for special care.

    Further, if your teen talks about death, or feeling rotten inside, or hopeless, or worthless… is withdrawn, sullen, and talks about violence, or wanting to die, reach out for help.

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

    At Innovative Psychiatry, we offer ketamine treatment every week. Specifically, if you’ve tried other antidepressant medication trials for at least a few months each, and have experienced no relief, ketamine treatment can help you achieve remission when other medicines didn’t come close.

    Ketamine Suicidality

    And if you endure suicidal thoughts and visuals, ketamine can erase those thoughts in a few short hours…maybe less.

    In this era of psychiatric treatment, you just don’t have to endure without treatment… or with treatment that doesn’t work.

    So… like I said, school’s starting: How’s your teen doing now?

    We treat adolescents and adults, age 14 and up with ketamine treatment when it’s appropriate, and celebrate with our patients as they complete treatment and walk out with the joy of a life of freedom of symptoms.

    While ketamine treatment doesn’t affect everyone this way, it does do this for most. And there are other ground breaking treatments you can try if you’re one of those rare people not transformed by ketamine.

    Thankfully, we no longer live in the Dark Ages even our grandparents did when it comes to psychiatric care. There is hope now. Wholeness. Remission.

    If you struggle with symptoms like we’ve talked about here, call us.

    We want to help you glide through the challenges ahead with resilience.

    Lori Calabrese, M.D. is on the front end of the race to stop PTSD in its tracks using IV ketamine treatment.

    To the restoration of your best self,

    We can all help prevent suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

    The Veterans Crisis Line and Military Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 Press 1

    Crisis Text Line: 741-741 Free text hotline 24/7

error: Content is protected !!