We provide a 3-week course of low-dose intravenous ketamine treatment for eligible consumers with difficult-to-treat depression.
Key points
- Low-dose ketamine is a novel treatment that can be effective in reducing depressive symptoms in people with difficult-to-treat depression
- Referrals can be made by a consumer’s psychiatrist at either the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) or Western Health mental health services
- Consumers who are not being managed in the mental health services can be referred by their treating psychiatrists if they live in the Melbourne or Moonee Valley local government areas (the RMH Mental Health Service catchment area)
What we do
The Advanced Interventions in Mood Disorders (AIM) Clinic is currently providing a 3-week course of low-dose intravenous ketamine treatment for eligible adults with difficult-to-treat depression.
Low-dose ketamine is a novel treatment that has been found to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms in people with difficult-to-treat depression.
Intravenous ketamine treatment is provided twice a week for 3 weeks at the AIM Clinic located at the RMH Parkville.
Who can use our service
The AIM Clinic ketamine treatment service is only available to eligible consumers who:
- Are currently receiving treatment at the RMH or Western Health mental health services, or live in the RMH Mental Health Service catchment area (the Melbourne and Moonee Valley local government areas) and are engaged with a psychiatrist who is overseeing their care
- Are aged 18 years or older
- Have difficult-to-treat depression
Eligibility assessment
Other eligibility criteria apply. Once a referral is accepted, consumers will be assessed at the AIM Clinic to ensure they are eligible to receive treatment.
Referrals
We only accept referrals from psychiatrists
Referrals can be made by a person's treating psychiatrist at the RMH or Western Health mental health services, or by their psychiatrist if the consumer lives in the Melbourne or Moonee Valley local government areas.
The AIM Clinic Ketamine Treatment service is not able to respond to direct enquiries from people in the community seeking referral information. Contact your treating psychiatrist if you are interested in being referred to this service.
Psychiatrists from the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Western Health mental health services can contact the AIM Clinic to request a referral form and a copy of the ‘Referral Information Brochure’ that includes the consumer eligibility criteria.