OCD Treatment in Littleton, CO

Physician-Led OCD Care Serving Littleton and South Denver

At Vitalitas, we understand that obsessive-compulsive disorder can take up significant time and mental energy, even when you recognize that a thought, fear, or ritual does not reflect what you actually want. At our Littleton clinic at 26 West Dry Creek Circle, Suite 200, Littleton, CO 80120, we review your symptoms, mental health history, medications, previous treatment, safety factors, and goals before determining whether IV ketamine therapy may be appropriate for your care.

When OCD Becomes Difficult to Manage

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a long-lasting mental health condition involving obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessions are recurring, unwanted thoughts, urges, or mental images. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts a person feels driven to perform, often in response to an obsession. OCD symptoms can be time-consuming, cause significant distress, and interfere with daily life.

OCD may involve patterns such as:

• Intrusive or unwanted thoughts, images, or urges

• Repeated checking or reassurance-seeking

• Cleaning or washing rituals

• Counting, repeating, or arranging behaviors

• Avoidance of situations that trigger obsessions

• Compulsions that may temporarily reduce anxiety while reinforcing the cycle

OCD is different from simply liking order, having routines, or occasionally double-checking something. Symptoms can become difficult to interrupt and may affect concentration, relationships, work, school, sleep, and everyday routines.

Established OCD treatment commonly includes psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of approaches. Exposure and response prevention (ERP), a specific form of cognitive behavioral therapy, is an evidence-based treatment for OCD.

When OCD symptoms remain difficult to manage despite previous care, some patients may explore additional treatment options.

IV Ketamine Therapy for OCD

At Vitalitas, we provide physician-led IV ketamine therapy for selected patients with OCD.

Ketamine is FDA-approved for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Its use for OCD and other psychiatric conditions is off-label, meaning ketamine has not been FDA-approved specifically to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. The FDA provides additional context on the current use of ketamine in emerging areas of therapeutic interest.

Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that affects glutamate signaling in the brain. Researchers have studied whether this mechanism may have therapeutic relevance for OCD.

The evidence is still developing. A 2026 systematic review of ketamine for OCD identified five eligible studies, including three randomized controlled trials and two open-label trials. The studies varied in route of administration, dosing frequency, and treatment design. The authors concluded that additional research is needed to better understand how ketamine treatment may be optimized for sustained symptom reduction.

We approach ketamine accordingly. IV ketamine is not a cure for OCD, and it does not replace established OCD treatment when psychotherapy, psychiatric care, or medication management remains appropriate. Instead, ketamine may be considered as an additional off-label option for some patients after careful evaluation.

Learn more about our broader approach to ketamine therapy for OCD.

Careful Screening and Physician-Led Ketamine Treatment

OCD symptoms can look very different from one person to another, so a diagnosis alone does not determine whether ketamine therapy is appropriate.

Before recommending treatment, we consider your:

• OCD symptoms and how they affect daily life

• Mental health and medical history

• Current medications

• Previous treatment

• Clinical stability and safety factors

• Treatment goals and expectations

If IV ketamine treatment moves forward, our care model includes:

• Individualized planning based on your symptoms, history, previous care, and clinical needs

• Physician oversight throughout treatment

• Clinical monitoring of heart rate, heart rhythm, blood pressure, oxygen level, and how you are feeling during the infusion

• Follow-up to review your response and guide future treatment decisions

• Care coordination with the clinician managing your mental health treatment when appropriate

Not everyone with OCD will be a candidate for ketamine therapy. We believe careful screening, realistic expectations, and consideration of your broader OCD treatment plan are essential parts of responsible care.