Psychotherapy for Ketamine’s Enhanced Durability in Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial (PSYKED-NP)

Saturday, November 15, 2025

7:40 AM - 7:48 AM CT

Location: Griffin Hall - Screen 01

Introduction:

Chronic neuropathic pain, persisting for ≥3 months from somatosensory nervous system damage, affects ~10% of adults worldwide.^1,2 Most medications offer partial relief, leaving patients with debilitating symptoms and reduced quality of life.³

Ketamine is used for chronic pain, but evidence of its durability is limited.⁴ Ketamine-induced neuroplasticity enhances brain receptivity to cognitive interventions, potentially yielding sustained outcomes.⁵Ketamine combined with psychotherapy is a proposed treatment, yet no trials have evaluated it for chronic neuropathic pain.

Submitting Author(s)

ML

Mariela Leda, MSc

Research Student
University of Toronto, United States

Co-Author(s)

PR

Paul Ritvo, Ph.D

Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry
University of Toronto, United States
DW

Duminda Wijeysundera, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Professor
University of Toronto, United States
JP

Janneth Pazmino-Canizares, MHS

Clinical Research Coordinator III
St Michael's Hospital, United States
RN

Roshni Nayar, BSc

Research Assistant
St Michael's Hospital, United States
PK

Polina Kyrychenko, BHSc

Research Assistant
St Michael's Hospital, United States
KZ

Kevin Zhou, NP

Adjunct Lecturer
University of Toronto, United States
AG

Akash Goel, MD, MPH, FRCPC

Clinician-Investigator
University of Toronto, United States