Depression Treatment
Break through the clouds. A different pathway for treatment-resistant depression.
For people who’ve tried multiple antidepressants — sometimes for years — without lasting relief. Our consultant-led IV ketamine programme in London works through a completely different mechanism, and most patients begin to notice change within the first few sessions.
- The Science
How ketamine treats depression — a different mechanism entirely.
SSRIs and SNRIs work on serotonin. Ketamine doesn’t. It acts on the glutamate system — the brain’s primary network for learning, adaptation, and repair. That’s why it can work when other antidepressants haven’t, and why the timeline is measured in days rather than months.
ABC News (Australia) — Ketamine shows positive outcomes for those with treatment-resistant depression.
NMDA Receptor Modulation
Ketamine modulates NMDA receptors — a subtype of glutamate receptors — triggering a controlled surge in glutamate, the brain's primary excitatory neurotransmitter.
AMPA Receptor Activation
That glutamate release stimulates AMPA receptors, which are critical for synaptic plasticity — the brain's ability to adapt and form new connections.
New Synaptic Connections
Ketamine activates BDNF and the mTOR pathway, driving synaptic growth and repair — particularly in the prefrontal cortex, where depression damages connectivity.
Reduced Neuroinflammation
Chronic depression is associated with inflammatory damage to brain networks. Ketamine appears to reduce excitotoxicity and modulate the microglial response.
70%+
clinical response rate (50%+ drop in PHQ-9) across our depression patients
Hours to days
typical onset of first mood shift — not the weeks required by SSRIs
6–10
IV sessions across 3–5 weeks for most responders to lock in benefits
- The Programme
What treatment actually looks like.
Every step is consultant-led. Every session is monitored. And between sessions, we track how you’re responding daily — not at your next appointment three months from now.
Consultant Assessment
A consultant psychiatrist reviews your medical history, current symptoms, and treatment history. We screen for anything that would make treatment unsafe — uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular disease, active psychosis — and take baseline measures on validated scales (PHQ-9, HAM-D, MADRS) so we can track your response objectively.
Preparation
You’ll fast for 4–6 hours before your session and arrange transport home. On arrival you’re settled in a private treatment room — dim lighting, quiet, comfortable — before your consultant confirms the plan with you.
IV Infusion
Ketamine is delivered intravenously over 40–60 minutes at a subanaesthetic dose (typically 0.5 mg/kg), titrated to your weight, symptoms, and prior response. Heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation are monitored throughout by a consultant anaesthetist. Most patients describe a gentle dissociative state that fades soon after the drip ends.
Recovery & Debrief
You’ll rest in the clinic for 30–60 minutes as the acute effects wear off. Most people are back to their baseline within a few hours. Before you leave, we debrief the session and confirm the plan for the days ahead.
The Programme & Follow-Up
A full course is typically 6–10 sessions across 3–5 weeks. Between sessions, daily WhatsApp check-ins and validated clinical scales let your consultant see how you’re responding in real time — and adjust the plan session by session. Booster sessions are scheduled based on how long your response holds.
- Treatment-Resistant
Treatment-Resistant Depression.
For people who’ve tried multiple antidepressants — sometimes for years — without lasting relief. Often high-functioning on the outside, but emotionally exhausted, numb, or unable to feel pleasure in things that used to matter.
Who this is for
- You've tried 2+ antidepressants without sustained improvement
- You've engaged with therapy but feel stuck
- You've been struggling for 2 years or more
- You feel persistently empty, flat, or exhausted
- Sleep, energy, or motivation are chronically depleted
How we help
Ketamine works through the glutamate system — a completely different pathway from SSRIs. By promoting rapid neural growth, it restores the brain’s ability to adapt and form healthier patterns. Most patients begin to notice change within the first few sessions.
Consultant-led from day one
Your treatment is planned and delivered by a consultant psychiatrist and consultant anaesthetist — not delegated to junior clinicians.
Daily monitoring between sessions
Short WhatsApp check-ins plus validated clinical scales give your consultant real-time visibility of how you're responding — and let them adjust the plan session by session.
A programme designed to hold
The full course is 6–10 sessions across 3–5 weeks, with booster sessions timed to your individual response — so the benefits are sustained, not fleeting.
Take back control of your happiness.
If antidepressants haven’t worked and you’re ready to try something built on a different mechanism, the next step is a short eligibility check or a free, no-pressure call with our team.