Ketamine for Anxiety: What the Research Shows

Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek help — and one of the areas where ketamine research is genuinely interesting, if still early.

Most people know ketamine has been studied for depression. Less well known is that a small but growing body of research has looked at ketamine for anxiety disorders on their own — generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) — including in people whose anxiety hasn’t responded to standard treatments. Here’s an honest look at where that evidence stands.

What the studies have found

In a 2018 randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial, adults with social anxiety disorder were significantly more likely to respond to a single IV ketamine infusion than to placebo in the two weeks that followed. And in a series of double-blind studies of people with treatment-refractory generalized and social anxiety, ketamine produced rapid reductions in anxiety — often within an hour of dosing — that lasted up to a week, with higher doses tending to work better.

The pattern echoes what’s seen in depression: relief can come quickly, but it isn’t permanent from a single dose, which is why treatment is structured as a series with maintenance over time.

An honest word on the evidence

These are promising signals, not settled science. The anxiety trials so far have been small, and independent reviews rate the overall quality of evidence as moderate to low. That means ketamine for anxiety is best understood as an emerging option — reasonable to consider when anxiety is severe and hasn’t responded to first-line treatments like therapy and standard medications, but not a replacement for those approaches.

Why it may help

Ketamine acts on the brain’s glutamate system and appears to support neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form new connections. For anxiety, which often involves rigid patterns of fear and avoidance, that temporary window of flexibility may make it easier to break old loops, especially when paired with therapy.

The bottom line

For people stuck in persistent, treatment-resistant anxiety, ketamine is a legitimate avenue worth discussing with a qualified clinician. The right first step is an honest assessment of what you’ve already tried and whether ketamine fits your situation and health.

Curious whether this could be a fit for you? Refound Center offers clinician-led care in the North Denver to Fort Collins area. Reach out to schedule a consultation and we’ll talk through your history and options together.

Medical disclaimer

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ketamine therapy is not appropriate for everyone. Talk with a qualified clinician about your history, medications, and goals before starting any treatment. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) in the U.S.

Sources & further reading (studies identified via PubMed):

Taylor JH, et al. Ketamine for social anxiety disorder: a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2017.194

Glue P, et al. Effects of ketamine in patients with treatment-refractory generalized anxiety and social anxiety disorders. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881119874457

Beaglehole B, et al. Six weeks open-label oral ketamine for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, or OCD. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811251344710