Ukraine’s Military Veterans Turn To Ketamine For PTSD Treatment As Advocacy Grows
In the winter of 2023, combat medic Ihor Kholodylo faced a life-altering event on Ukraine’s eastern front. A shell from a Russian tank struck his medical evacuation van, leaving him severely injured. Though Kholodylo survived, the psychological toll was profound. Despite healing from physical injuries, he was left with a debilitating stutter, a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
As Kyiv Post reported, Kholodylo, a psychologist by profession, recognized that traditional PTSD treatments, such as talk therapy, would take too long. His search for faster relief led him to an emerging treatment: ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP). Conducted at the Expio Clinic in Kyiv, Kholodylo’s experience with ketamine revealed buried traumas from his time on the frontlines. After several sessions, his stutter vanished.
“I needed something different and more direct,” Kholodylo explained. “The concept [of ketamine] made sense to me, it helped access the unconscious.”
Kholodylo is now advocating for wider access to KAP for Ukrainian veterans. He envisions ketamine not only as a treatment for PTSD but as a preventive measure for soldiers between combat assignments.
Ketamine’s Role In PTSD Treatment
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