Psychoanalytic Explorations: Ketamine +/- Therapy by Andrew Anson, MD

Psychoanalytic Explorations is a series in which faculty members and students of the NOBPC, as well as interested members of the community, present and discuss issues of current concern to them. The focus will be on clinical practice, theoretical challenges, and non-clinical applications of psychoanalytic theory; all presentations are intended to deepen attendees’ ability to think psychoanalytically. Each session will begin with a presentation followed by questions and answers and open discussion, with the intention of facilitating relaxed, informal peer exchange.

Discussion begins at 11am Central Time at NOBPC or Zoom

With training in Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy, Dr Anson presents a firsthand account of primary process material using medicalized ketamine, the conflicting medical, psycholytic and psychedelic models of treatment, and what psychedelics stands to teach psychoanalytic and non-psychoanalytic communities about the unconscious mind.
Dr. Anson will provide details on the research into the neuroscience behind how we think it helps, and the implications for therapy because of what ketamine research is teaching us about the unconscious mind.

Dr. Anson’s paper and information presented will dispel some suspicions about an FDA approved treatment, and help all practitioners distinguish and think critically about three different approaches to ketamine, the medical approach, the psychological/psycholytic approach and the psychedelic approach. The paper will also educate about the risks and harms of ketamine and the risk of ketamine remaining outside clinical and therapeutic settings.

Learning Objectives:
· Participants will be able to explain the difference between psycholytic psychotherapy and psychedelic psychotherapy.
· Participants will be able explain the proposed therapeutic mechanism of action of ketamine in terms of the default mode network and neurogenesis.

Andrew Anson, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and teaching faculty at Tulane University and New Orleans-Birmingham Psychoanalytic Center. Dr Anson will have recently (April 2024) completed 150+ hours of training in Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy training through the California Institute of Integral Studies and has studied the body of literature on psychedelics and has written and lectured on Ketamine and other psychedelics.

Attendance is free. Pre-register by emailing nobpcenter@gmail.com.

Zoom registration ends 24 hours before the event.

1.5 CME credits is $15 for NOBPC members and $25 for non-members.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and NOBPC. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR ALL LEARNERS: None of the planners and presenters for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s)* to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
*Financial relationships are relevant if the educational content an individual can control is related to the business lines or products of the ineligible company.
-Updated July 2021-
Psychologists, Social Workers, and Licensed Professional Counselors may also receive continuing education credit for this activity if their accredited associations or boards recognize CME credits.