See our Ketamine VR Resource Library below

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Overview 

Many first-line treatments for chronic pain and emotional conditions such as depression simply don’t work for most patients. KVR or Ketamine Virtual Reality Therapy has shown to be very promising for those who haven’t had success with traditional medications and therapy.

 

How It Works

Pioneered by Dr. Tim Canty at Manhattan Restorative, KVR works by interrupting communication between neurons in the brain and the spinal cord, allowing the central nervous system to reset.

 

What to Expect

The patient rests in a quiet, comfortable environment and watches a relaxing 90-minute VR visualization while the ketamine is administered via IV. Every patient is different, but in general, three to five treatments are recommended over a two-week period.   

 

Safety

Ketamine has been used safely for over 40 years, is FDA-indicated, and has been gaining attention with major institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts General Hospital and Time Magazine thanks to intriguing new studies.

 

Efficacy

In one study, three-quarters of patients experiencing suicidal ideation reported losing these dangerous thoughts after just one treatment, while two-thirds of patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder were restored to a pre-depressive state after a full course of treatments.

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Side Effects

Side effects are rare, generally mild, and easily preventable with premedication during the infusion. Occasionally, nausea, headaches and mild dreams may occur, all of which are easily treated.

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Treatable Conditions

• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

• Fibromyalgia

• Central Pain Syndrome

• Chronic Back pain

• Phantom limb pain

• Diabetic neuropathy

• Migraine Headache

• Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain

• Trigeminal Neuralgia

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Bipolar Disorder

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KVR Resource Library

1. Stanford - Medical Virtual Reality Projects Underway (2021)

2. Mass General - Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression (2020)

3. Practical Pain Management - VR Programs Target Pain, Stress, Depression (2020)

4. Time Magazine - Ketamine: New Hope for Depression (2017)

5. Mount Sinai - Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression (2016)

6. UTennessee - VR Impact on Chronic Pain (2016)

7. Harvard-reviewed - Monitoring Therapeutic Effects of Meditation (2015)

8. US Army, UWashington, Ohio State U - Military & Civilian Applications of KVR (2011)

9. Harvard - IV Ketamine for Depression and Suicidality (2009)