Quantifying the Psychological Effects of Ketamine: From Euphoria to the k-Hole

Abstract

52 ketamine users were “opportunistically” recruited to take part in a survey of the psychological effects of the drug, in Manchester, United Kingdom in 2008. Twenty-seven ketamine-naïve respondents were also recruited for comparison in respect of “other” recreational drug use and level of schizotypy. Ketamine users attributed a wide range of appetitive, aversive, after-effect, and dissociative experiences to the drug. They also reported using a much wider range of other recreational drugs than ketamine non-users. Former users reported significantly fewer positive or dissociative experiences than current users.

RÉSUMÉ

Quantifiant Les Effects Psychologiques De La Ketamine: De l’euphorie au k-hole

En 2008, 52 utilisateurs de la Kétamine ont été recrutés de façon «opportuniste» afin de participer à une enquête, menée à Manchester en Angleterre, sur les effets psychologiques de cette drogue. 27 non-utilisateurs de la Kétamine ont également été recrutés afin de comparer l’utilisation d’autres drogues récréatives et le niveau de schizotypie. Les utilisateurs de la Kétamine ont attribué une large palette d’effets appétitifs et aversifs et des expériences de dissociation à la drogue. Ils ont également rapporté une utilisation beaucoup plus étendue d’autres drogues récréatives que les non-utilisateurs de la Kétamine. D’anciens utilisateurs rapportaient nettement moins d’expériences positives ou de dissociation que les utilisateurs.

RESUMEN

Cuantificando Los Efectos Psicologocos De Ketamina: euforia al k-agujero

52 consumidores de ketamina fueron alistados oportunisticamente para participar en una encuesta de los efectos psicológicos de la droga en Manchester, Inglaterra, en 2008. 27 encuestados no consumidores de ketamina también fueron alistados para una comparación con ‘otras’ drogas recreativas y nivel de esquizotipia. Consumidores de ketamina atribuyeron a la droga una amplia gama de experiencias aversivas, disociativas y efectos secundarios. También contaron que consumían una gama mucho más amplia de otras drogas recreativas que los no consumidores de ketamina. Ex consumidores de ketamina relataron significativamente menos experiencias positivas o disociativas que consumidores actuales.

Keywords :

• ketamine
• k-hole experiences
• schizotypy

THE AUTHORS

John Stirling has been a faculty member in psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) for over 30 years, having graduated from London University and then from the University of York. This period of work has been interrupted only by a yearlong visiting professorship to CSU (Sacramento) in 1992/1993, and a research secondment to the University of Manchester from 2002–2005 He has also taught short courses in the United States, Belgium, Germany, Holland, and Hong Kong. His teaching has encompassed biopsychology, neuropsychology, psychopathology, statistics, and research methods. His research interests have ranged widely from “the early predictors of psychosis outcome” to “cerebellar signs in dyslexia.” He has published over 30 journal articles and is the author of three books, the most recent of which (Introducing Neuropsychology, cowritten with Rebecca Elliott) appeared as a fully revised second edition in June 2008. His current research interests focus on “the concept of the continuum of psychosis in the general population” and “the psychotomimetic effects of recreational drugs.” He is a senior visiting research fellow to the neuroscience and psychiatry unit at the University of Manchester.

Lauren McCoy graduated from MMU in 2009. In her final student year, supervised by JS, she conducted the research study on which this report is based. Following graduation, she worked as a volunteer social worker in Colombia (South America) for 6 months, and is now formally training for a career in social work in the United Kingdom.