Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Project

College/School

College of Nursing

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Project Mentor

Therry Eparwa

Readers

Dr. Hannah Cunningham

Abstract

Patients with cancer confront not only physical challenges but also deep emotional and psychological distress experiences. Depression, anxiety, and existential distress often accompany a cancer diagnosis and negatively affect quality of life, response to medical treatment, and survival outcomes. Traditional psychiatric pharmacologic treatments are slow to work and often inadequate at reducing symptoms. There is an urgent need for fast and effective treatment options that improve mental health outcomes for patients facing life-threatening illnesses, highlighting the importance of exploring innovative approaches to mental health care in oncology settings. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project examined via retrospective analysis how ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) impacted depression, anxiety, and existential distress symptoms of patients with cancer. Available pre- and post-treatment screening scores (PHQ-9, GAD-7, and NIH-HEALS) from six patients who received KAP from the AIMS Institute in Seattle, WA were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. Results showed that five out of six patients had improved depression and anxiety symptoms and all four patients with data showed improvement to their perceptions of existential distress. Due to the small sample size, these changes were not calculated as statistically significant; regardless, there were meaningful clinical improvements observed. KAP could improve emotional well-being, treatment adherence, and overall outcomes for cancer patients. However, further research with larger samples are needed to support KAP’s potential as a fast-acting and effective treatment option for cancer patients experiencing psychological distress. KAP may help fill a critical gap in care, especially for those with limited time to wait for traditional medications to take effect.

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