Ketamine for the treatment of Addictions and Mental Health

How does ketamine work in the treatment of Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health? How is it used around the world and what the evidence? 

Dr Nikola Ognyenovits is an Addiction Medicine Specialist. He has a strong interest in the clinical management and research in substance use disorders, behavioural addictions and associated mental health conditions, including developmental trauma, PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders. Dr Ognyenovits is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians’ Chapter of Addiction Medicine. He is involved in advocacy to inform drug policy and service development. Currently he is working as a Staff Specialist in Metro North and West Moreton Alcohol and Drugs Services and in private practice. Dr Ognyenovits’ main interest in research is the exploration of novel approaches to addiction treatment. His latest project is to research and introduce ketamine assisted psychotherapy as a therapeutic modality in substance use disorders. He is also involved in an MDMA assisted psychotherapy research trial for PTSD through Monash University. Dr Ognyenovits graduated as Doctor of Medicine in Budapest, Hungary, initially training in Psychiatry. After moving to Australia in 1992, he worked in rural and remote centres across Australia. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.