LCIP

The Centre for Interventional Psychiatry (LCIP) is a clinic in Lausanne, Switzerland, established in 2016, that provides direct and confidential access to evidence-based treatments outside the hospital setting. The center specializes in interventional psychiatry, a branch of psychiatry that encompasses techniques acting directly on brain circuits or neurobiological mechanisms involved in treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. LCIP focuses on treatment-resistant depression, treatment-resistant anxiety, chronic pain, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder through ketamine infusions and other interventional approaches including rTMS, ECT and psychiatric-oriented anesthetic treatments.

Service

LCIP offers intravenous ketamine infusions indicated for patients with severe major depression (unipolar or bipolar) without psychotic symptoms and for various conditions of chronic pain. The center also provides treatment for treatment-resistant anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Treatment is delivered in person at the clinic in Lausanne. A total of 10 infusions are recommended over a period of 10 weeks, with booster infusions administered at variable frequency depending on the evolution of the condition. Each infusion lasts approximately 45 minutes with at least 30 minutes of monitoring afterwards.

Safety

All prospective patients undergo a medical examination with both a psychiatrist and an anaesthetist to determine if the treatment can be done. Ketamine is contraindicated in the case of schizophrenia, psychosis or epilepsy. Patients with severe cardiovascular or respiratory problems may need further tests before the first infusion or a modification of the treatment. Treatment is performed by a team of highly qualified and experienced anaesthetists, with a specialist nurse in anaesthetics or a doctor present throughout the procedure. A psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse is also constantly available. Vital parameters such as blood pressure, oxygen saturation and the electrocardiogram are constantly monitored during and after infusions. If no positive response is observed after five infusions, the protocol is interrupted and other therapies may be suggested. Side effects including dizziness, blurred vision, hypertension, tachycardia, nausea and dissociative effects are monitored and controlled as necessary by specific medication.

Care pathway

Patients schedule an appointment with the center. All prospective patients then undergo a medical examination with both a psychiatrist and an anaesthetist to determine if the treatment can be done. Patients with severe cardiovascular or respiratory problems may need further tests before the first infusion. Before each infusion, patients must have an empty stomach from six hours before for solid food and three hours for liquids. During treatment, patients are installed in a comfortable dimly-lit room with minimal external stimuli. After each infusion, patients must be accompanied back home and must not drive for 48 hours. Treatment is provided on an appointment-only basis at the clinic located at Avenue de l’Avant-Poste 4, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.

This description was generated based on information from the official website and other materials provided by the provider.