Barriers and Access to Care for Firefighters With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Seeking Ketamine-Assisted Therapy: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

<h4>Objective</h4>Firefighters are exposed to a disproportionately high number of traumatic incidents and thus display elevated rates of trauma-related mental health disorders, with the reported average PTSD prevalence being 7.3% in firefighters versus 1.3%-3.5% in the general population. Oftentimes, conventional treatments demonstrate limited efficacy. Ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT) has recently arisen with promising long-term results.<h4>Methods</h4>The experiences of six firefighters who had enrolled in but not begun the Roots to Thrive (RTT) KAT program were investigated. Interviews were conducted pretreatment, and a thorough thematic analysis was performed.<h4>Results</h4>Four major themes were identified: (1) feeling stuck and reaching a breaking point, (2) stigma surrounding PTSD and the use of ketamine for treatment, (3) the importance of self-advocacy in navigating access to treatment, and (4) substantial financial and logistical barriers.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study highlights the importance of system-wide changes necessary to support treatment-seeking individuals.

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