The session brings together leading experts to discuss various aspects of addiction psychiatry, with a focus on understanding the complexities of substance use disorders and improving clinical practices.
Dr Irene Guerrini explores the growing issue of ketamine addiction, particularly its increasing use among younger populations. While ketamine is used in medical settings for anaesthesia and depression treatment, its hallucinogenic properties make it prone to misuse. Dr Guerrini presents data showing that chronic use can lead to both mental health and urological issues, including cognitive impairment and bladder problems. She emphasises the importance of integrated care, combining addiction, mental health, and specialist services to improve patient outcomes and support recovery pathways.
Dr Nicky Kalk discusses the rise in methamphetamine-related presentations, particularly in emergency departments, and the challenges in managing these patients, especially those with psychosis. She highlights the variable course of methamphetamine-related psychosis, with some patients improving quickly, while others develop chronic symptoms. Dr Kalk also addresses the frequent co-use of GBL, which can complicate the clinical picture, leading to similar symptoms as methamphetamine psychosis. She advocates for using emergency care settings to initiate harm reduction and ensure safe transfers to mental health services.
Dr Julia Sinclair examines the ongoing barriers to integrated care for patients with co-occurring alcohol use disorders and mental health conditions. Despite the recognition that comorbidity should be the norm rather than the exception, Dr Sinclair argues that significant structural issues, such as the decommissioning of addiction services from the NHS, continue to hinder progress. She calls for a national strategy to improve service design, implement clear crisis care pathways, and ensure staff competence in handling alcohol-related issues in mental health settings.
Learning objectives
By attending this session you will gain:
- Understand on how to diagnose, treat and learn the course of ketamine use disorders in the lifetime of the patients.
- Understanding on how methamphetamine and GBL use present clinically and learn strategies for their acute management
- Understanding of the reasons why a national strategy would improve outcomes for patient with comorbid alcohol use.
Speakers
Chair: Dr Emily Finch, Chair, Royal College of Pyschiatrists Faculty of Addictions Psychiatry
Dr Irene Guerrini, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London
Dr Nicky Kalk, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London
Dr Julia Sinclair, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton
Availability
This webinar is part of the Congress webinar 2025 package. If you attended all four days of Congress, you will have access to these as part of your Congress package. Otherwise the Congress webinar 2025 package can be purchased below.
