All concerns may be real enough, but that's one reason why I'm so encouraged by - and keep citing - Schwartzman RJ, Alexander GM, Grothusen JR et al, Outpatient intravenous ketamine for the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome: A double-blind placebo controlled study, Pain 2009 Dec 15;147(1-3):107-15. Epub 2009 Sep 23, FREE FULL TEXT AT http://www.rsds.org/2/library/articl...n_Pain2009.pdf (suggesting that with the right protocol, outpatient infusions of ketamine may be useful in chronic cases afterall).

Please look at this particular article closely, if you haven't done so already. If larger trials bear these particular results out, we might be on the verge of a cure, in which case it would no longer be an "experimental treatment" requiring, among other things, the complete absence of any psychiatric "co-morbidities," including but not limited to mood disorders due to underlying medical conditions (DSM IV 293.83).

There is hope yet.

Mike