To our Collaborating Providers:

(Referral Form at Bottom of Page)

We are committed to providing the best possible care for patients suffering from major depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders.  As part of this goal, we look forward to collaborating with you to help in determining the best treatment options for your patients who have not responded to other conventional treatments.

While ketamine is a decades old medication, its use in treating depression, trauma, and other psychiatric symptoms is relatively new (taken within the context of our field).  Dr. Barton welcomes any interest you might have in talking to him about this novel therapy either for your patients or simply for educational purposes.

It is most helpful when referring a patient to consider our treatment as a consultative therapeutic intervention.  If your patient is determined to be appropriate for Ketamine Infusion Therapy, we will provide treatment, as well as post-treatment recommendations.  It is not the goal of this clinic to conduct extensive psychiatric diagnostic interviews. We assume that our colleagues in the community are competent and capable at what they do.  Most patients referred to us have either a treatment refractory condition, or their condition is of such intensity that more aggressive and acute therapeutic modalities are warranted.

Ketamine Infusion Therapy has a great deal of literature supporting its use for treatment refractory depression, bipolar depression, and PTSD.  Ketamine infusions are unique in that they have not as of yet been shown to induce manic or hypomanic states when treating bipolar depression.  Of particular note is that ketamine has also been shown in clinical trials to reduce suicidal ideation.  Ketamine is not appropriate for treating individuals who have a psychotic component to their mental health issue either in the present or past.

Patients should remain on their medications (with very few exceptions) throughout their Ketamine Infusion Treatment.  We will neither start, stop, or change your patient’s medications.

The average number of Ketamine infusions is six, and they are spread out over a two week time period.  Response rates approximate 50-70% in the clinical trials and literature.  It is often useful for you to schedule an appointment with your patient shortly after the completion of their series of ketamine infusions to assist in determining response and for giving any feedback you might want to provide.  Your long term relationship with your patient offers a perspective that can rarely be achieved in the two week period that he/she will be under our care.  We will schedule follow ups with the patient as well if needed.  Patients that have robust responses to ketamine therapy sometimes choose to have booster infusions.  The frequency of these, if they occur at all, will be determined on a case by case basis in a collaborative manner.

We are very excited about this treatment and would welcome the opportunity to share any information with you or your staff.  Please do not hesitate to contact the Nashville Ketamine Center either by phone at 615-601-1315 or through this website.

Thank you for your time and for the opportunity to share in the care of your patients.