Reducing relapse in alcohol dependence with the NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Psychology
Abstract
Context of the research:
Worldwide, alcohol abuse is an escalating problem. Nearly 9% of men and 4% of women in the UK today meet criteria for alcohol dependence - in all around 3.9 million British adults. Alcohol misuse globally accounts for roughly 4% of all deaths and 5% of the burden of disease. Costs to the NHS from alcohol abuse are estimated at £2.7 billion annually and consequences of prolonged alcohol abuse, both physically and psychologically, can be severe. For alcoholics, giving up drinking for good is key to allow recovery of physical and mental health as well as quality of life, but treatment for alcohol dependence has very low success rates. Half of all alcoholics will return to heavy drinking just 3 months after detoxification, a figure that jumps to around 70% after as little as 6 months. Due to the huge burden on the NHS and UK economy and the ever growing numbers of people dependent on alcohol, new treatments for alcohol dependence are urgently needed. Our research team have found preliminary evidence that 3 doses of the anaesthetic drug, ketamine, combined with psychological therapy can reduce one year relapse rates in alcohol by over 40%. Such a dramatic treatment effect has never been previously observed in alcohol dependence. Converging evidence from studies in animals, healthy humans as well as in humans with depression suggest that ketamine might be acting to promote the growth of new connections between brain cells, a process which we know to be impaired following alcohol addiction and which might explain the dramatic treatment effect. Another possible explanation is that ketamine has relatively recently been discovered to be a very rapid acting and impressive antidepressant. We know that depression is rife in alcoholism and predicts relapse, so treating depression with ketamine might account for this extraordinary reduction in relapse rates. However, while supporting data come from controlled laboratory studies, our preliminary patient data come from an uncontrolled study which crucially needs replicating.
Aims and objectives of this project:
Our primary aim is to assess whether ketamine-assisted therapy is safe, well-tolerated and effective at promoting abstinence in a sample of 96 recently detoxified alcoholics with a minimum of mild depression. Secondary aims are to examine whether ketamine alone is as effective as ketamine plus psychotherapy. We will randomise people to receive either 3 weekly doses of ketamine or placebo (0.8mg/kg IV over 45 mins) plus psychological therapy or 3 weekly doses of ketamine or placebo plus a psychoeducational control. Patients will then be tracked for 6 months and changes in drinking behaviour compared.
Potential applications and Benefits:
The application of these findings is clear: a much more effective treatment for the notoriously destructive and treatment-resistant condition of alcohol dependence. If preliminary findings are confirmed in this small study, this would provide the basis for a large scale clinical trial. Due to the widespread medical use of ketamine in the UK, this work could then quickly be rolled out as a new treatment for alcohol dependence in the NHS. This would have a huge impact on the health and wealth of the nation, in terms of improved mental and physical health for those afflicted with alcohol dependence, and associated benefits for families and loved ones of the alcohol dependent individual, along with reduced NHS, legal and policing costs, less days absent from work, better vocational achievement. If ketamine-assisted therapy does emerge to be effective in alcoholism it may also prove to have applications in other addictions, and present a new and powerful treatment for co-morbid depression in alcoholism.
Worldwide, alcohol abuse is an escalating problem. Nearly 9% of men and 4% of women in the UK today meet criteria for alcohol dependence - in all around 3.9 million British adults. Alcohol misuse globally accounts for roughly 4% of all deaths and 5% of the burden of disease. Costs to the NHS from alcohol abuse are estimated at £2.7 billion annually and consequences of prolonged alcohol abuse, both physically and psychologically, can be severe. For alcoholics, giving up drinking for good is key to allow recovery of physical and mental health as well as quality of life, but treatment for alcohol dependence has very low success rates. Half of all alcoholics will return to heavy drinking just 3 months after detoxification, a figure that jumps to around 70% after as little as 6 months. Due to the huge burden on the NHS and UK economy and the ever growing numbers of people dependent on alcohol, new treatments for alcohol dependence are urgently needed. Our research team have found preliminary evidence that 3 doses of the anaesthetic drug, ketamine, combined with psychological therapy can reduce one year relapse rates in alcohol by over 40%. Such a dramatic treatment effect has never been previously observed in alcohol dependence. Converging evidence from studies in animals, healthy humans as well as in humans with depression suggest that ketamine might be acting to promote the growth of new connections between brain cells, a process which we know to be impaired following alcohol addiction and which might explain the dramatic treatment effect. Another possible explanation is that ketamine has relatively recently been discovered to be a very rapid acting and impressive antidepressant. We know that depression is rife in alcoholism and predicts relapse, so treating depression with ketamine might account for this extraordinary reduction in relapse rates. However, while supporting data come from controlled laboratory studies, our preliminary patient data come from an uncontrolled study which crucially needs replicating.
Aims and objectives of this project:
Our primary aim is to assess whether ketamine-assisted therapy is safe, well-tolerated and effective at promoting abstinence in a sample of 96 recently detoxified alcoholics with a minimum of mild depression. Secondary aims are to examine whether ketamine alone is as effective as ketamine plus psychotherapy. We will randomise people to receive either 3 weekly doses of ketamine or placebo (0.8mg/kg IV over 45 mins) plus psychological therapy or 3 weekly doses of ketamine or placebo plus a psychoeducational control. Patients will then be tracked for 6 months and changes in drinking behaviour compared.
Potential applications and Benefits:
The application of these findings is clear: a much more effective treatment for the notoriously destructive and treatment-resistant condition of alcohol dependence. If preliminary findings are confirmed in this small study, this would provide the basis for a large scale clinical trial. Due to the widespread medical use of ketamine in the UK, this work could then quickly be rolled out as a new treatment for alcohol dependence in the NHS. This would have a huge impact on the health and wealth of the nation, in terms of improved mental and physical health for those afflicted with alcohol dependence, and associated benefits for families and loved ones of the alcohol dependent individual, along with reduced NHS, legal and policing costs, less days absent from work, better vocational achievement. If ketamine-assisted therapy does emerge to be effective in alcoholism it may also prove to have applications in other addictions, and present a new and powerful treatment for co-morbid depression in alcoholism.
Technical Summary
Background: In the UK alone, nearly 9% of men and 4% of women today meet criteria for alcohol dependence - in all approximately 3.9 million British adults. Abstinence is key to allow recovery of physical and mental health as well as quality of life, but treatment for alcohol dependence is associated with high relapse rates of around 50% at 3 months, 70% at 6 months. Despite the huge burden on the NHS and UK economy, treating alcohol dependence and prolonging abstinence remains an unmet need.
Proposed solution: Our proposed solution is three isolated doses of ketamine in combination with psychological therapy. Our own preliminary data suggest that ketamine reduces alcohol use in hazardous drinkers; and that psychotherapy combined with three weekly doses of ketamine in recently detoxified alcoholics may reduce 12 month relapse rates in alcohol-dependence from 76% to 34%. Ketamine's antidepressant properties may contribute significantly to these effects, as depressive symptoms are a key contributor to relapse. Mechanistically, ketamine promotes the growth of new synapses in the brain which has been found to be impaired in chronic alcoholism.
Design: 96 recently detoxified alcoholics will be randomized to receive either 3 sessions ketamine (0.8 mg/kg IV over 45 minutes) or placebo plus manualised psychological therapy or ketamine and placebo alone, with a psychoeducation control. Patients will be assessed at 3 and 6 months on a range of psychological and biological variables. Primary endpoints will be % days abstinent at 3 and 6 months and relapse rates at 6 months. Secondary endpoints include depressive symptoms, craving and quality of life.
Application/exploitation: The findings would have broad application given the worldwide prevalence of alcoholism and associated medical, psychological and social problems. The success of this study would provide a very strong impetus for a large scale clinical trial.
Proposed solution: Our proposed solution is three isolated doses of ketamine in combination with psychological therapy. Our own preliminary data suggest that ketamine reduces alcohol use in hazardous drinkers; and that psychotherapy combined with three weekly doses of ketamine in recently detoxified alcoholics may reduce 12 month relapse rates in alcohol-dependence from 76% to 34%. Ketamine's antidepressant properties may contribute significantly to these effects, as depressive symptoms are a key contributor to relapse. Mechanistically, ketamine promotes the growth of new synapses in the brain which has been found to be impaired in chronic alcoholism.
Design: 96 recently detoxified alcoholics will be randomized to receive either 3 sessions ketamine (0.8 mg/kg IV over 45 minutes) or placebo plus manualised psychological therapy or ketamine and placebo alone, with a psychoeducation control. Patients will be assessed at 3 and 6 months on a range of psychological and biological variables. Primary endpoints will be % days abstinent at 3 and 6 months and relapse rates at 6 months. Secondary endpoints include depressive symptoms, craving and quality of life.
Application/exploitation: The findings would have broad application given the worldwide prevalence of alcoholism and associated medical, psychological and social problems. The success of this study would provide a very strong impetus for a large scale clinical trial.
Planned Impact
Policy Makers and Service Providers: Last year the Government released its 'Alcohol Strategy', vowing that they would "... radically reshape the approach to alcohol and reduce the number of people drinking to excess...", two key aims were cut the number of alcohol related deaths and to cut the number of people drinking above NHS guidelines, both of which this treatment may address. Access to a new highly effective treatment would have an impact on public service providers, such as the NHS, along with positive impacts on existing governmental strategies to target alcohol-related problems.
Wider community: Estimates suggest that roughly 3.9 million adults in the UK today show signs of alcohol dependence, these would be primary beneficiaries of the research, along with those in the social networks of these individuals, that is their families and friends. Alcohol related crime and violence is a key concern, with impacts on policing and the legal system. The probationary/legal system could be users of this research in terms of advocating more effective treatment orders.
Charitable Sector: A variety of charities e.g. Alcohol Concern; Addaction; Focus12 would benefit from knowledge of a more effective treatment for alcohol dependence.
Commerical Sector: Private healthcare and detoxification centres would benefit from access to a new treatment approach, along with possibly the pharmaceutical industry, who could use these data to inform drug development in addiction.
How would they benefit?
Service providers would benefit from having an swift and efficacious treatment that should improve treatment adherence, long-term outcomes and ultimately provide cost savings.
Service users would benefit from a shorter and more effective treatment that would be less stigmatising than being maintained on medication long-term. Benefits of no longer being dependent on alcohol for alcohol dependent individuals are considerable and wide-ranging. Physical health would improve, and risks of alcohol-related diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver would decrease. This treatment would also have a positive impact in terms of users' mental health (depression, anxiety) and improved cognitive function, as well as quality of life. Social benefits would also be seen, as alcohol dependence is a key factor in the breakdown of relationships and domestic violence. Benefits would be reflected economically, not only in a reduction in burden to the NHS but in more frequent and regular engagement in work activities, and a reduction in crime. Alcohol is also associated with considerable acute harms.
Potential to contribute to the nation's health and wealth: the marked prevalence of alcohol use makes it a public health issue and if successful this project will make a significant contribution to the nation's health. It will also have impact on wealth in terms of fewer days absent from education/work and this combined with improved neurocognitive function should enhance achievement and productivity. In 2012, 15,401 deaths in England and 1.24 million hospital admissions are attributable to alcohol consumption, therefore benefits would also acrue in a reduction in burden on the NHS and its workforce, in alcohol-related deaths and in other non-fatal acute harms.
Timescales for the benefits to be realized: the success of this project would lead to a large scale randomized clinical trial which, if also successful, would mean that benefits to the target population of alcohol dependent individuals could be realized within 5 years following completion of the present project.
What research and professional skills of staff working on the project will be gained? We anticipate a wide range of generic research skills will be acquired by the post-doc and RA as well as generic communication skills (via peer-reviewed articles, conference abstracts, oral presentations to a range of academic and non-academic audiences).
Wider community: Estimates suggest that roughly 3.9 million adults in the UK today show signs of alcohol dependence, these would be primary beneficiaries of the research, along with those in the social networks of these individuals, that is their families and friends. Alcohol related crime and violence is a key concern, with impacts on policing and the legal system. The probationary/legal system could be users of this research in terms of advocating more effective treatment orders.
Charitable Sector: A variety of charities e.g. Alcohol Concern; Addaction; Focus12 would benefit from knowledge of a more effective treatment for alcohol dependence.
Commerical Sector: Private healthcare and detoxification centres would benefit from access to a new treatment approach, along with possibly the pharmaceutical industry, who could use these data to inform drug development in addiction.
How would they benefit?
Service providers would benefit from having an swift and efficacious treatment that should improve treatment adherence, long-term outcomes and ultimately provide cost savings.
Service users would benefit from a shorter and more effective treatment that would be less stigmatising than being maintained on medication long-term. Benefits of no longer being dependent on alcohol for alcohol dependent individuals are considerable and wide-ranging. Physical health would improve, and risks of alcohol-related diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver would decrease. This treatment would also have a positive impact in terms of users' mental health (depression, anxiety) and improved cognitive function, as well as quality of life. Social benefits would also be seen, as alcohol dependence is a key factor in the breakdown of relationships and domestic violence. Benefits would be reflected economically, not only in a reduction in burden to the NHS but in more frequent and regular engagement in work activities, and a reduction in crime. Alcohol is also associated with considerable acute harms.
Potential to contribute to the nation's health and wealth: the marked prevalence of alcohol use makes it a public health issue and if successful this project will make a significant contribution to the nation's health. It will also have impact on wealth in terms of fewer days absent from education/work and this combined with improved neurocognitive function should enhance achievement and productivity. In 2012, 15,401 deaths in England and 1.24 million hospital admissions are attributable to alcohol consumption, therefore benefits would also acrue in a reduction in burden on the NHS and its workforce, in alcohol-related deaths and in other non-fatal acute harms.
Timescales for the benefits to be realized: the success of this project would lead to a large scale randomized clinical trial which, if also successful, would mean that benefits to the target population of alcohol dependent individuals could be realized within 5 years following completion of the present project.
What research and professional skills of staff working on the project will be gained? We anticipate a wide range of generic research skills will be acquired by the post-doc and RA as well as generic communication skills (via peer-reviewed articles, conference abstracts, oral presentations to a range of academic and non-academic audiences).
Publications
Bloomfield MA
(2016)
Salience attribution and its relationship to cannabis-induced psychotic symptoms.
in Psychological medicine
Carlyle M
(2017)
Improved memory for information learnt before alcohol use in social drinkers tested in a naturalistic setting.
in Scientific reports
Carlyle M
(2019)
Impaired empathy and increased anger following social exclusion in non-intoxicated opioid users
in Psychopharmacology
Carlyle M
(2021)
A randomised, double-blind study investigating the relationship between early childhood trauma and the rewarding effects of morphine.
in Addiction biology
Chesters RA
(2022)
Brain volume in chronic ketamine users - relationship to sub-threshold psychotic symptoms and relevance to schizophrenia.
in Psychopharmacology
Curran HV
(2016)
Keep off the grass? Cannabis, cognition and addiction.
in Nature reviews. Neuroscience
Grabski M
(2022)
Adjunctive Ketamine With Relapse Prevention-Based Psychological Therapy in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder.
in The American journal of psychiatry
Grabski M
(2020)
Ketamine as a mental health treatment: Are acute psychoactive effects associated with outcomes? A systematic review
in Behavioural Brain Research
Grabski M
(2023)
Encyclopedia of Mental Health
Ivan Ezquerra-Romano I
(2018)
Ketamine for the treatment of addiction: Evidence and potential mechanisms.
in Neuropharmacology
Title | Animations to explain mindfulness and relaxation to participants |
Description | We engaged an animator to make some animations to accompany our therapy of relaxation and mindfulness to aid explanation to participants. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Impact | We have had very good responses from participants and many enquiries from drug and psychology services to use our animations in their therapy packages |
Title | Reflect |
Description | Working with Sound UK and co-creating with peers to produce an installation exploring experiences of addiction |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Impact | In progress still however strong links with community and interest in research, media coverage, community organisations wanting to use installation approach in other communities i.e. translation. |
Description | Contribution to repurposing ketamine as a medicine |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | Training for local drug services in mindfulness and motivational interviewing provided as components of our trial therapy package |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | As a result of the psychological therapy training developed for our trial, when visiting local drug services and describing this therapy we identified a gap in the regional practice of practitioners in Dorset (EDP drug services) in that they were not providing best practise first line interventions. We arranged an initial training for the services in question, which has now formed a key part of their training packages. |
Description | Investigating Ketamine Assisted Therapy in the Clinic |
Amount | £240,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Awakn Life Science |
Sector | Private |
Country | Canada |
Start | 02/2021 |
End | 12/2024 |
Description | MORE-KARE: A multi-centre investigation of increasing alcohol abstinence with ketamine-assisted psychological therapy in severe alcohol use disorder |
Amount | £2,400,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NIHR150193 |
Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2023 |
End | 12/2026 |
Description | Awakn Partnership |
Organisation | Awakn Life Science |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Set up industry collaboration to deliver therapy from this grant in a clinic. More funding provided (280K for small research study) and license of therapy. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners : Provide clinic and funding for work |
Impact | Two RAs employed and new research started Therapy set up to run in the clinic New ethical approvals gained |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Cognacity |
Organisation | Cognacity Limited |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We have advised on the use of ketamine in treatment resistant depression for setting up a new service in this clinic. |
Collaborator Contribution | Advising on protocols and outcomes, setting up an evaluation in the service. |
Impact | Set up new research project to evaluate study in their therapy service |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Collaboration with local drug service |
Organisation | Addaction |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | We worked together for the purposes of recruitment - but we have now co-created a project using a therapy as a result of this partnership. |
Collaborator Contribution | Addaction provided the staff time to refer patients for the trial |
Impact | The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving psychiatrists, nurses, key-workers and psychologists. The outputs are a paper in prepartion. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Compass Patheays |
Organisation | COMPASS Pathways Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Asked to be a site for a clinical trial |
Collaborator Contribution | Lead PI for a clinical trial |
Impact | Recently started none as yet - |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | ISPA, University of Lisbon |
Organisation | University of Lisbon |
Country | Portugal |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Applied for funding from University of Lisbon with team there to research the KARE therapy in Portugal |
Collaborator Contribution | Led grant application |
Impact | Grant application, newspaper and media coverage |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | UBC ketamine |
Organisation | University of British Columbia |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have been sharing best practise on ketamine therapy between our groups. |
Collaborator Contribution | They have also been sharing best practise of ketamine therapy with our group |
Impact | no outputs yet, ketamine systematic review underway |
Start Year | 2018 |
Title | Licensed ketamine therapy to Awakn Life Sciences |
Description | Therapy to treat alcohol use disorder |
IP Reference | |
Protection | Trade Mark |
Year Protection Granted | 2021 |
Licensed | Yes |
Impact | Licensing for use in clinics |
Title | MORE KARE therapy |
Description | The combined intervention is starting in clinical trials funded by NIHR with additional funding from Awakn Life Sciences |
Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Drug |
Current Stage Of Development | Late clinical evaluation |
Year Development Stage Completed | 2022 |
Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
Impact | Changing practice in psychiatry field by the combination of psychological therapy and drug. |
Title | Relapse prevention CBT and mindfulness to accompany the administration of a drug treatment for addiction |
Description | We have developed a new psychological therapy package to accompany the administration of psychotomimetic drugs in the treatment of addictions but which also functions as a brief, manualised stand-alone relapse prevention psychological therapy. We have combined all the leading psychological approaches in this package. We have conducted piloting and refining the study with patient involvement and further refine following the trial, before potentially seeking wider distribution. |
Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Psychological/Behavioural |
Current Stage Of Development | Refinement. Clinical |
Year Development Stage Completed | 2015 |
Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
Clinical Trial? | Yes |
Impact | We have had positive patient reports on this therapy package, if implemented more widely there would be economic benefits. |
URL | https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02649231 |
Description | A series of talks to substance misuse services across London and the South West |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | South West: We spoke to local substance misuse services in Bristol (BDP and Avon and Wiltshire Partnership Trust) in addition to attending local meetings to talk to drug services in RISE services in Exeter, Newton Abbott, Tiverton, Okehampton, Barnstaple. We spoke to Addaction in Weston Super Mare, EDP in Weymouth, Bridport, Dorchester. London: We spoke to CGL, Turning Point, Camden and Islington, Addaction, SLAM, and CNWL services. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | ACNP |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk and expert panel at American college of Neuropsychopharmacology American Psychiatry conference in phoenix, AZ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | APSAD Darwin |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Keynote for Australian Society of Alcohol and Drug Practicioners |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Articles in 25 national and international newspapers July 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Press release about the trial which sparked much interest in the media, many interviews and requests for TV broadcasts. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/new-trials-are-using-ketamine-to-treat-alcohol-addiction |
Description | Articles in various newspapers about Dry january and the trial |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | A press release was prepared about dry january in order to draw attention to the trial and boost recruitment |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | BBC 1 TV programme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This was a BBC 1 broadcast: The truth about alcohol. I spoke about the effects of alcohol on the body and the use of the SCRAM bracelets for alcohol monitoring that we are using in our current MRC funded trial. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Breaking convention |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Organising a conference and symposium - reach is very broad |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | British neuroscience association |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Conference talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
Description | CPD events for addiction psychiatrists in South West, London and Manchester |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited to CPD events for addiction psychiatrists to discuss new treatments |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Conference of addiction practitioners, expert panel debate |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Participated in a panel at UKSEAD - an international addiction conference for practitioners about novel approaches to addiction treatment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Convened symposium at British Association for Psychopharmacology |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Convened a symposium on the use of ketamine in the treatment of addiction and presented the trial and its design, as well as ethical recommendations developed as a paper in press |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Forensic Science Society Talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Talk to forensic science society about ketamine and outcomes from trial |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Guardian weekend magazine |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Article covering the design of the trial and collaboration with industry |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Interview for national news |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Extensive media coverage about the therapy in Portugese |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Ketamine confeerence |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk about study at conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | National institute of health workshop on psychedelcs |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Workshop by National Institutes of Health in US but with international reach of over 5000 attendees at the online workshop, 12 speakers chosen worldwide to be on three panels and the work of this grant was what was presented there. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/events/2022/psychedelics-as-therapeutics-gaps-challenges-and-opportuni... |
Description | Norwegian Drug Policy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Talk for norwegian drug policy organisation about ketamine findings |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Organising Ketamine conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Helped Rupert McShane organise the first international conference on ketamine and related compounds in Oxford 21-23 March. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Royal College of Psychiatrists |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk at conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Royal college of general practitioners |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | presented about the therapy to general practitioners |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | TV appearance about the trial |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | TV segment of the trial on the national news. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Times magazine |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Article covering findings of the study |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/can-ketamine-help-cure-alcoholism-s3ttdt3tn |
Description | ~300 news outlets covered press release of findings from the trial including Sky, ITV, BBC News |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Press release of findings of trial was picked up by a large number of news outlets. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |