Inside STAT: Ketamine gives hope to patients with severe depression. But some clinics stray from the science

(EROS DERVISHI FOR STAT)

Dozens of free-standing clinics have opened across the U.S. in recent years to provide ketamine to patients who are desperate for an effective treatments for major depression and other mental health conditions. They're buoyed by evidence that the anesthetic can rapidly relieve symptoms of depression in some patients. But a STAT investigation found wide-ranging inconsistencies among clinics, from the screening of patients to the dose and frequency of the infusions to the coordination with patients’ mental health providers. Experts worry that some clinics are offering the drug to anyone who can afford it, with many patients paying thousands of dollars out of pocket. I have more on the practices and claims of the clinics — read here.