Black Dog Institute has today announced a new clinical trial investigating whether ketamine, combined with evidence-based psychological therapy, can improve treatment outcomes for Australia's emergency service workers living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Announced in Canberra at the National Emergency Worker Mental Health Roundtable, the trial will be delivered through Black Dog Institute's National Emergency Worker Support Service, in partnership with the UNSW Traumatic Stress Clinic.
The trial will focus on emergency service workers and volunteers who continue to experience PTSD symptoms and depression despite receiving previous treatment, offering a potential new pathway to recovery for those who have not responded to existing therapies.
The research will investigate whether combining ketamine treatment with exposure therapy, a gold-standard psychological treatment for PTSD, can enhance recovery and improve mental health outcomes.
While exposure therapy is an established and effective treatment for PTSD, not everyone experiences lasting improvement. Researchers hope to determine whether ketamine, delivered alongside exposure therapy, can improve treatment outcomes for people who have not responded adequately to previous care.
The trial will be the first of its kind in Australia to investigate this combined treatment approach specifically for PTSD and depression in emergency service workers.
Black Dog Institute Executive Director and Chief Scientist, Professor Sam Harvey, said the announcement represents an important step towards improving treatment options for those who dedicate their lives to protecting Australian communities.
Every day, Australia's emergency service workers put themselves in challenging and often traumatic situations to keep our communities safe. While we have made significant progress in supporting their mental health, we know there are still people who continue to struggle despite receiving treatment. Through the National Emergency Worker Support Service, we've seen firsthand the difference that timely, evidence-based psychological care can make. But we also recognize that existing treatments don't work for everyone, and we need to keep exploring new ways to help those who haven't experienced the recovery they deserve."
Sam Harvey, Executive Director, Chief Scientist and Professor, Black Dog Institute
"This research will investigate whether combining ketamine with exposure therapy can improve outcomes for people living with persistent PTSD symptoms. It's about building on what we know works, while exploring new approaches that could help more of our emergency service workers recover and regain their quality of life."
The announcement comes as leaders from government, emergency services, research, healthcare and lived experience gather in Canberra for the National Emergency Worker Mental Health Roundtable, officially opened by the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, the Hon Emma McBride MP.
With another bushfire season beginning, the roundtable provides an opportunity to reflect on progress made in supporting the mental health of Australia's emergency service workforce, consider emerging challenges and identify practical opportunities to strengthen support.
Although the NEWSS program has been offering gold standard treatment for PTSD for emergency service workers across Australia, many are still reluctant to engage with mainstream services for help. To address this huge need, the UNSW Traumatic Stress Clinic and the Black Dog Institute will be conducting a world-first trial of an AI chatbot to evaluate its appeal and capacity to treat PTSD in those emergency service workers who want an anonymous and digital intervention.
The Director of the UNSW Traumatic Stress Clinic, Professor Richard Bryant AC, said the explosion of AI tools now available to people for their mental health issues has raised the need for evidence on how effective these actually are.
“Millions of people are using AI tools for mental health support every day, but we don’t really know how useful they. We owe it to our emergency service workers to ensure that we develop an AI chatbot that is effective, safe, and meets the needs of our frontline workers”.
Recruitment for both trials is expected to commence in 2027. People interested in participating in the ketamine trial will first be encouraged to discuss the study with their treating doctor or psychiatrist. Those interested in the AI program will be recruited by social media from across Australia. Potential participants will then be assessed against clinical eligibility criteria, including treatment history, medical history and current supports, before a referral and formal screening process can proceed.
The research aims to build on the outcomes already achieved through the National Emergency Worker Support Service and inform future approaches to treating PTSD among Australia’s emergency service workforce.
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