Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Interventional Psychiatry team operate a self pay Ketamine treatment service for people with treatment resistant depression. Led by Dr (Associate Professor) Rupert McShane, the Oxford team have been involved in research into Ketamine as a treatment for treatment resistant depression for a number of years now.
I have an assessment with Dr McShane on Tuesday. To get to this point I had to be referred (DrG referred me in January), to meet the qualifying criteria and to submit supporting information. 

The qualifying criteria is as follows:

• currently be suffering from depression
• have tried at least two different types of antidepressants for at least six weeks each at an
• adequate treatment dose
• have tried at least one type of psychological treatment
• be referred to the service by a GP or psychiatrist
• be able to travel safely for treatment and assessment appointments
• be willing and able to send regular depression ratings by either email or SMS texting
• be willing and able to complete regular questionnaires online, or have someone who can
• help them do this if needed
• be able to understand the nature and purpose of the treatment, its benefits and possible
• side effects

No issues with any of those. The supporting information I have had to provide consisted of:

• referral letter from my GP or psychiatrist
• my NHS summary sheet listing all current and previous medications from the past 5 years; details of hospital admissions, and physical illnesses
• correspondence about my mental heath from the past 3 years 

I pulled this together with input from DrG, DrN and my NHS GP surgery. 

There is a two stage assessment process. The first stage is a desk based type review of the referral and supporting information. I have passed through this and have the second stage assessment meeting with Dr McShane this coming week. 

In anticipation of this I was set up on two systems – one for completing questionnaires about my history and mental health (called ‘Patients Know Best’) and one for recording my mood each day (called ‘True Colours’). True Colours will be used to track my mood up to treatment, during treatment and post treatment (assuming I am approved for treatment by Dr McShane).

I’ve used similar mood trackers in the past, including during the rTMS treatment I paid for in early 2024. They can be a bit black and white at times and some of the questions on True Colours are quirky but they are as good as any other diagnostic tool for tracking progress I assume. 

I really am hoping I pass through the assessment and get offered treatment. The article I linked above gives me hope it could help. One patient was quoted in that article as saying the Ketamine helped slow down the “constant, overwhelming bombardment of negative intrusive thoughts surging through your brain” and provides the ability to “fight back”. 

God, I would welcome that chance. Another patient was quoted as saying the treatment had allowed him to “live for a few days a week rather than just exist”. Again, I’d take those few good days a week over what I feel now. 

There’s a long way to go. Assessment and then treatment and that comes with challenges. I will need to be accompanied (not easy) or stay over after each treatment. That will be impactful financially, for my family and work but if the other options are ECT or suicide then I’ll manage the impact. I’m not a religious man (I’m an atheist) but I’m ‘praying’ for some upside.