Kēta [noun] the state of being vexed; troubled
In the Kannada dialect from southern India, Kēta-MIND
literally translates as ‘troubled mind’.
The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) endorses intravenous ketamine therapy for resistant depression and has issued 3 guiding position statements:
1. The diagnoses, acute management and chronic management of Treatment Resistant Depression is managed on level 2-7 care pathway, led by a psychiatrist.
2. The administration of IV Ketamine is done by an anaesthetist or anaesthetically trained GP according to SASA protocals at the point of care.
3. There is no evidence of IM nor Sc nor oral ketamine
Life Changing
“Getting out of bed and being interested in life again is actually a miracle” – KCSA patient
Infusion Therapy at KetaMIND Clinics
Offers new hope to those with resistant depression, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, post partum depression and chronic pain conditions like CRPS (RSD), fibromyalgia, neuralgia and migraines
Opening Hours
Monday – Friday 8:00 – 17:00
Saturday 8:00 – 13:00
Over
13,000
Safe infusions at KetaMIND clinics around the country.
70 – 80%
Success rate for major depression and suicidality
Interest-free financing of infusions at KCSA Clinics through MediConnect
Mood Disorders
Those who don’t respond to traditional antidepressants often embark on a trajectory of ever-increasing doses, combinations of different drugs, behavoural therapy and repeated electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Eventually they might be described as ‘Treatment Resistant’ and hope is all but not lost
Infusions
Our infusions target specific receptors in the brain and have been demonstrated to repair damaged synapses (junctions between nerves) in a predictable and sustained manner. Instead of simply ‘numbing the senses, our infusions offer a transformative awakening, realignment of purpose and restoration of hope in responsive patients
Why should I consider infusions at KCSA?
Major Depression is a devastating and costly disease at many levels.
Our Founder
Dr Alan Howard (Founder and National Medical Director) of KCSA first realized the remarkable effect of infusions targeting glutamatergic receptors while working as a Consultant Emergency Physician in Ireland. In 2019 he opened the first dedicated clinic of its kind in South Africa and his passion and drive to bring this remarkable therapy to those trapped in a devastating cycle of depression and suicidality has led to the opening of many further clinics around the country. Dr Howard has been published several times in South African Psychiatry and has participated in many interviews, webinars, and podcasts with eminent psychiatrists. Dr Howard continues to be a leader in this field, pioneering the way forward.
What Our Patients Say
Name
Position
‘I now want to go shopping, go to the park and not just stay in my room all the time.’
Name
Position
‘I cannot compare this treatment to any other. Close to a miracle!’
Name
Position
‘Antidepressants have been plasters. Infusion therapy is surgery.’
Name
Position
‘I now want to have a successful life, rather than just ending it.’
Name
Position
‘My sister was with us for 10-days over the Christmas season and the change in her was remarkable! She was cheerful and engaging. (Sister of a 71-year-old profoundly depressed woman who was placed in care due to her depression – after four infusions).’ – January 2020
Name
Position
‘Molly has had the most amazing experience. She hasn’t laughed in about 6-months so it was wonderful to see her animated and laughing. (Mother of a 14-year-old depressed, suicidal girl after only two infusions)’ – January 2020
Name
Position
‘I came home to see the old Dave. He was cheerful, bright and bushy tailed.’
Name
Position
‘I was a derelict house. Infusion therapy began renovations. Now I feel like a mansion.’
Name
Position
‘I no longer have to pretend to feel happy.’
Name
Position
‘Over two weeks I felt a growing strength, energy, balance, and clarity of thought and purpose.’
850 000
Deaths
by suicide, globally each year.
Every 3
Seconds
there is a suicide attempt.
Every 40
Seconds
someone dies from suicide.
KetaMIND always leading the way.
Our Mission
We will offer new hope to those with resistant mood disorders and chronic pain in a professional, compassionate, safe and affordable manner through the novel paradigm of our Infusion Therapy.
Our Vision
We aspire to provide unparalleled care and safety standards as the most trusted name in the field of infusion therapy for mood disorders and neuropathic pain in South Africa.
Our Pledge
We promise to treat our patients with respect, dignity and compassion. We will neither judge nor breach confidence. We will tirelessly pursue the restoration of happy, meaningful lives for all our patients through the appropriate and safe administration of our infusions.
Have some Questions?
How do infusions work?
The medication we administer at KCSA clinics was developed as an anaesthetic in the 1960’s and is one of the most widely used and safest anaesthetic agents in the world. About 14-years ago it was discovered that infusions of this drug at much lower doses could rapidly reverse major depression and suicidality and that a series of infusions actually repaired damaged nerve fibres and synapses (nerve junctions) in the brain. Most traditional antidepressants target the receptors in the brain mediated by the neurotransmitters serotonin and nor-adrenaline and can take weeks to work, if at all. Our infusions target another, much more prevalent receptor (NMDA) causing an increase in levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate that has an almost immediate effect in most cases. Around 70% of patients with treatment resistant depression experience reduction in suicidal thoughts after only one infusion.
Our infusions also disrupt the feedback loop of chronic pain in the brain and can provide remission from refractory migraines, CRPS , fibromyalgia and other types of chronic, neuropathic pain in responsive patients.
How our infusions work
When used as an anaesthetic, the dose administered is about four-times as high as that used for our treatments and is given as a bolus over only a few minutes. Because patients still retain the ability to protect their own airway, breathe normally and usually experience no significant cardiovascular effects, our infusions are considered extremely safe compared with other anaesthetic agents. The dose you will receive at KCSA is far less and given as a controlled infusion over 40-minutes for depression and 4-hours for chronic pain conditions.
Even though these infusions have an established safety profile, we still exercise every caution at KCSA Clinics and your infusion will be administered by doctors and nurses with appropriate training and with immediate access to emergency drugs and equipment.
Who is looking after me during the infusion?
Before your infusion a medical history will be taken and your weight will be recorded. A standard pre-anaesthetic assessment will be conducted by the doctor.
A small cannula will be placed in a vein on the back of your hand or forearm by a nurse or doctor and your infusion will always be started by a doctor. The weight-based preparation of the infusion will be checked by both a doctor and a nurse. We require our doctors to have experience administering anaesthesia drugs and training in airway management. Our nurses are required to have life-support skills, and experience in Intensive Care Units or Emergency Departments and are therefore familiar with the monitors used to check on you throughout the infusion. A doctor will be immediately available throughout your infusion.
Associations, Affiliations, Memberships and Accreditations
Our founder and National Medical Director is a member of:
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