Mark Hrymoc, MD, addiction psychiatrist and mental health clinician, was recently featured as a guest on the Addiction Medicine Made Easy podcast, a show focused on making complex topics in addiction medicine and mental health treatment more accessible for clinicians and the broader public.
Hosted by Dr. Casey Grover, the Addiction Medicine Made Easy podcast explores practical and evidence-based discussions around substance use disorders, psychiatric treatment, and emerging approaches in addiction medicine. The show aims to provide clear, clinically grounded insights that help both healthcare professionals and listeners better understand the evolving science behind addiction and mental health care.
In this episode, Dr. Hrymoc discusses the growing role of ketamine therapy in the treatment of mental health conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, acute suicidality, anxiety, and PTSD. Drawing on his experience as an addiction psychiatrist, he explains how ketamine differs from traditional antidepressant treatments and why it can produce rapid symptom relief for some patients when other interventions have not been effective.
The conversation also explores the clinical protocols used in ketamine-assisted treatment, including structured induction sessions, individualized maintenance plans, and the use of standardized tools such as the PHQ-9 to measure treatment progress. Dr. Hrymoc discusses how ketamine works in the brain at the receptor level and how its effects on neuroplasticity may contribute to its therapeutic impact.
Throughout the discussion, Dr. Hrymoc emphasizes the importance of careful patient screening, medical supervision, and comprehensive psychiatric evaluation when considering ketamine therapy. He also addresses common concerns about addiction risk and explains the differences between recreational ketamine use and carefully monitored medical treatment.
The episode highlights the broader field of interventional psychiatry and the importance of continuing to develop new treatment approaches for individuals whose symptoms have not improved with traditional antidepressant medications.
Listen to the Episode
To learn more about Mark Hrymoc, MD and the Mental Health Center in Los Angeles:
👉 https://www.mentalhealthctr.com
