Implementing a Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Program in an Outpatient Counseling and Psychiatry Clinic

Background: Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a newly emerging treatment modality gaining popularity among outpatient psychiatric practices. Despite mental health practitioners' increased interest in KAP, evidence-based protocols to direct safe treatment remain scarce. Experts in psychiatry, psychotherapy, and psychedelic medicine are currently experimenting with varied protocols and procedures to develop standardized practices for KAP. Local Problem: Clinicians at Amber Creek Counseling and Psychiatry, an outpatient mental health practice in suburban Utah, had sought training in KAP but could not offer the service without the necessary tools and policies to support its delivery. A quality improvement project was developed in response to the expressed needs of clinicians seeking to implement a functioning KAP program at this site. Methods: A protocol, toolkit, and psychoeducational module outlining KAP practices were created and distributed to clinic practitioners and staff. Questionnaires at the intervention's pre- education, post-education, and post-implementation phases surveyed clinicians' knowledge, attitudes, and intentions surrounding the clinic's KAP protocol. Implementation data was also collected as a secondary outcome measure. Interventions: The protocol and toolkit, which included an informed consent document, a patient education handout, practitioner guides, and reference materials, were made available within the clinic for the three-month study period. Clinicians were familiarized with the resources and encouraged to utilize them in identifying appropriate patients and preparing them for KAP treatment. Results: Although the intervention achieved only partial implementation within the data- collection period, results from the questionnaires demonstrated increases in clinicians' perceived capability, opportunity, and motivation to utilize the KAP protocol. Survey responses also indicated increased intent to offer KAP, improved knowledge regarding the clinic's KAP program, and overall positive perceptions toward the availability of KAP services. Conclusion: The KAP protocol, toolkit, and educational presentation introduced in this quality improvement project have successfully initiated a KAP program in this setting.