Telangana Journal of Psychiatry

Ketamine abreaction in dissociative amnesia: A case report

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Article Type : Case Report

Author Details: Chilukuri Raviteja, Chilukuri Harihar

Volume : 4

Issue : 1

Online ISSN : 2455-8559

Print ISSN :

Article First Page : 46

Article End Page : 47

Abstract

 

 

Drug facilitated abreaction has been in use for the treatment of Dissociative disorders for many years now. The successful use of ketamine as an abreactant was reported in the 1980s. Not much literature is available on this effective and safe technique. In this case report, we present the case of a fifteen year old boy who presented with dissociative amnesia of eight days duration, including amnesia for the three languages he was fluent in, which developed just two weeks before his tenth standard board examination.  He underwent a session of Ketamine abreaction in the dose of 1mg/kg administered intramuscularly during which he recovered his languages and also recollected his lost traumatic memories. The single treatment session enabled him to perform well in his examinations. Further follow-up for the next two months revealed him to be in total remission.
Dissociative Disorders can be utterly maladaptive. Hence, they need to be rapidly relieved. Ketamine abreaction in the dose of 1 mg/kg intramuscularly is a safe, quick and effective treatment. Its successful use in a 15 year old boy with Dissociative Amnesia which was thwarting his crucial tenth class board examination is reported here.

Keywords: Ketamine, Abreaction, Dissociative amnesia

 

 

Doi No:-10.18231