Treating job-related stress with psychedelic group therapy: a case series on group ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for healthcare workers and first responders

Oct 20, 2025Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology

Using group ketamine therapy to reduce work stress in healthcare workers and first responders

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Abstract

Median scores for anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms significantly improved after .

Participants showed reduced GAD-7 scores from 9.5 to 6, indicating less anxiety.
PHQ-9 scores decreased from 12 to 5, suggesting lower levels of depression.
PCL-5 scores improved from 27 to 10, reflecting a decrease in trauma symptoms.
All subcomponents of the also showed improvement after the treatment.
Most participants had existing mental health conditions, including depression and PTSD.
The treatment model may effectively address job-related stress among healthcare workers.

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BACKGROUND: Job-related stress and its extreme form, burnout, continue to affect almost half of all frontline healthcare workers and first responders. Current treatments are inadequate.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a model of (KAP) delivered in a group format to address symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and burnout via repeated measures of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9, PTSD Checklist (PCL)-5, and (MBI).

DESIGN: A retrospective cohort analysis of KAP's effect on GAD-7-item scale, PHQ-9-item scale, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and MBI. GAD-7, PHQ-9, and PCL-5 were administered prior to the first group meeting, on the last group date, and 2 weeks after the completion of the final session. MBI was measured twice, as a pre- and post-intervention test. Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30) was collected at each integration.

METHODS: Participants were recruited via self-referrals and professional collaborations. Participants were screened into groups of six after completing a medical evaluation to rule out contraindications. The seven-week program included three ketamine sessions and four group psychotherapy sessions. Descriptive statistics of the cohort, pre- and post-KAP measurement comparisons, regression modeling, and visualizations were prepared.

RESULTS: Median age was 41 years (24-60), 44% female, and 3% transgender. Participants were 97% White and 3% Hispanic. Many were receiving treatment for depression (59%), anxiety (50%), PTSD (34%), addictive disorders (37%), and other behavioral health conditions (37%). Median pre- versus post-KAP scores for GAD-7 (9.5 vs 6, = 0.003), PHQ-9 (12 vs 5, < 0.001), PCL-5 (27 vs 10, < 0.001), and all three subcomponents of MBI were improved. The last value of MEQ-30 (75 vs 105, < 0.001) was higher than the first. p p p p

CONCLUSION: KAP in group settings may offer a rapid reduction in depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms. Adverse events were rare. This psychedelically oriented treatment model may represent a viable intervention for epidemic job-related stress in the healthcare workplace and larger controlled studies are warranted.

Key numbers

9.5 to 6

Decrease in Anxiety Symptoms

scores pre- vs. post-

12 to 5

Decrease in Depression Symptoms

scores pre- vs. post-

27 to 10

Decrease in Trauma Symptoms

scores pre- vs. post-

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Ketamine shows promise for healthcare worker burnout, while psychedelics face regulatory hurdles

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Treating job-related stress with psychedelic group therapy: a case series on group ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for healthcare workers and first responders

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