It is not only with mental health problems that it is always best to seek help from a professional as soon as possible and to address problems before they can go to the extreme. The psychiatric and psychological outpatient clinic is often a person's first point of contact with mental health care and is primarily for those whose treatment cannot be delayed. Like other facilities, our outpatient clinics are focused on diagnosis and treatment, where you will get answers to basic questions. We also place a strong emphasis on linking with community care services.
Outpatient clinics are open from 8am to 4pm.
Outpatient care at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre offers patients medium-term help with mental health problems that do not require hospitalisation. Treatment includes both psychiatric and psychological evaluations so that patients receive comprehensive support in difficult life situations.
At present, this type of outpatient care is only for patients who have made an appointment.
It is used for acute examination, basic crisis management and planning of early acute care (outpatient, inpatient and inpatient). It also serves as a possible contact in case of crisis or acute difficulties after primary care. The management of further action is always decided by the physician. The Acute Outpatient Clinic is available non-stop, and during the out-of-hours of the outpatient clinic, its operation is stitched to the Acute Reception.
The outpatient clinic is open 24 hours a day, but longer waiting times on site must be expected.
Acute admission provides care for patients brought in by EMS units in need of acute or urgent psychiatric care. At the same time, for the same reasons, it is used to examine patients referred by other departments (emergency admissions of hospitals - especially Hospital Hořovice - and other psychiatric facilities).
The care is intended for patients under 18 years of age.
For children who find themselves in a difficult life situation we offer short-term psychological help in the form of crisis intervention. We help to manage acute stress, with the aim of stabilising the psychological state and restoring a sense of security. Both children and parents receive support in a crisis situation or a referral to set up further psychological or psychiatric care.
Esketamine therapy represents a modern approach to treating resistant depression, a condition in which the patient does not respond to other standard antidepressant treatments. Esketamine is administered as a nasal spray and always in the presence of a trained healthcare professional. Patients are referred on the basis of an initial indication assessment and a referral from an outpatient psychiatrist is essential for scheduling!
Treatment is provided on an outpatient basis where esketamine is administered on the premises of the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre. The administration is followed by a 2 hour rest period where the patient is regularly monitored by a nurse. After the observation the patient goes home. The regimen of administration of esketamine is twice a week in the first month of treatment, once a week in the second month and then, according to the agreement with the doctor, once or twice every 14 days. As a rule, treatment with esketamine lasts at least 6 months. After two months of therapy, a decision is made to continue or discontinue the therapy depending on the effect.
More information about the treatment regimen can be found on the website of the State Office for Drug Control here.
Virtual reality therapy
Treatment of phobias and anxiety disorders in a safe environment
We offer outpatient psychotherapy using virtual reality, designed for patients who struggle with fear or anxiety in specific real-life situations. Virtual reality allows for gradual and controlled exposure to feared situations directly in the outpatient clinic, under the guidance of a therapist, without the risks and unpredictability of the real world.
Who is this therapy suitable for?
Our clinic offers VR scenarios focused on the following situations:
The therapy is particularly suitable for patients with specific phobias, agoraphobia, panic disorder or avoidance behaviour linked to these situations.
How the therapy works
Under the therapist’s supervision, the patient is gradually exposed to a virtual representation of the feared situation. The therapist continuously adjusts the intensity and pace of exposure to suit the patient’s current condition. The aim is to learn to manage anxiety and gradually reduce avoidance behaviour, which often complicates situations in everyday life. Effective therapy usually requires 6–12 sessions.
Advantages of VR exposure
Booking
You can book a therapy session using the booking form on this website. Once you have submitted the form, we will contact you to arrange a date for your first session.
A new treatment option combining the effects of ketamine with specialist psychotherapeutic support.
KAP combines the administration of an individually determined dose of ketamine via subcutaneous injection with therapeutic preparation, support from a therapist whilst the substance is taking effect, and subsequent processing of the experience. Ketamine can temporarily alter perception, emotions, thought processes and experience, thereby creating space for psychotherapeutic work.
Ketamine is registered as an anaesthetic. Its use to treat mental health difficulties within KAP and its subcutaneous administration is known as ‘off-label’ use, i.e. outside the approved conditions of registration.
Following an individual assessment, KAP may be suitable for people who are struggling with:
A psychiatrist decides on the suitability of the treatment, taking into account previous treatment, mental and physical health, and any potential risks.
Suitability is always assessed on a case-by-case basis by a psychiatrist, taking into account previous treatment, mental and physical health, and potential risks.
For some patients, ketamine may bring rapid relief from depression, anxiety, traumatic symptoms or psychological rigidity, and may support psychotherapeutic work. The effect cannot be guaranteed; it may be partial, temporary or may not occur at all. The strongest evidence exists for short-term effects in treatment-resistant depression.
The first step is to complete the online intake form. A team member will assess your responses and contact you regarding the next steps. Completing the form or undergoing the intake assessment does not guarantee acceptance.
Contact:
| by telephone on +420 311 745 888 | |
| by email atrecepcecdr@nember.cz |
The KAP programme is intended for adult patients with selected mental health conditions for whom standard treatment to date has not led to sufficient improvement.
The effectiveness of ketamine is best documented in the treatment of depression, even in cases where conventional treatment has failed. For some other mental health conditions, there are indications that ketamine might also help, but so far there is less evidence and fewer studies available. In these cases, the suitability of KAP is always assessed on an individual basis.
Neither the diagnosis itself nor previous unsuccessful treatment automatically means that KAP is suitable for a particular patient. Admission to the programme involves a comprehensive psychiatric assessment and an evaluation of the potential benefits and risks for the patient.
The body of scientific evidence varies significantly between different diagnoses.
The best-documented effects are observed in:
We also have some, albeit limited, evidence for:
For other diagnoses, such as eating disorders, there is as yet only very limited or preliminary data. Ketamine cannot therefore be considered a standard treatment for these conditions.
The diagnoses listed represent areas in which ketamine has been scientifically studied. This does not mean that all patients with these conditions are automatically accepted into the programme at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre in Beroun.
The decision on admission is made by a physician based on the patient’s specific medical condition and the current programme guidelines.
Ketamine is primarily authorised as an anaesthetic. Its use in the treatment of certain mental health conditions therefore falls outside the authorised indications for the medicinal product. This means that the physician is using the authorised medicine in a different way or for a different purpose than that for which it was originally authorised. Such use is permitted provided it is medically justified, is based on available scientific evidence, and the patient is properly informed about its nature, potential benefits and risks.
Esketamine, in the form of a nasal spray, should be distinguished from ketamine; it is authorised in the European Union for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression in adults under specified conditions. We also offer treatment with esketamine as part of our outpatient care under the supervision of Dr Matěj Kasal. You can find more information about the treatment here.
No. KAP is not intended as a first-line treatment.
We accept patients into the programme who have undergone at least two appropriate therapeutic attempts which did not lead to sufficient improvement, were not well tolerated, or did not produce a satisfactory long-term effect. Depending on the nature of the difficulties, a therapeutic attempt may include:
Previous treatment must have been carried out for an appropriate duration and with sufficient intensity. Short-term or irregular use of medication, or just a few psychotherapy sessions, cannot generally be considered a sufficient therapeutic attempt.
In the case of depression, the term ‘pharmacoresistance’ usually refers primarily to the failure of at least two adequate attempts at treatment with antidepressants. The inclusion of psychotherapy is a broader criterion of our programme, not a substitute for this professional definition.
To be admitted to the programme, we require that the patient has their own outpatient psychiatrist who provides their long-term psychiatric care. KAP is a time-limited specialised programme and does not replace regular outpatient psychiatric treatment or crisis care.
We also strongly recommend regular collaboration with the patient’s own psychotherapist. Long-term psychotherapy can help build on the experiences gained during the KAP programme and apply any changes to everyday life. If a patient does not have a psychotherapist, we will discuss what follow-up care they will need during the assessment.
No. The final decision is based on a comprehensive psychiatric and medical assessment. The physician assesses, in particular:
Certain medical or mental health conditions may mean that KAP is not suitable, even if the patient has one of the diagnoses listed.
The legal framework permitting the therapeutic use of psilocybin has been in force in the Czech Republic since 1 January 2026. However, the practical availability of this treatment depends on the fulfilment of further professional, organisational and pharmaceutical conditions.
Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre Beroun
Ketamine and psilocybin are two distinct substances with different mechanisms of action, different experiential profiles and different levels of scientific understanding.
| Ketamine | Psilocybin | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of substance | Anaesthetic with rapid antidepressant effects | Classic psychedelic |
| Main mechanism | It acts primarily on the glutamate system in the brain, which influences mood and perception. | It acts primarily via serotonin receptors. |
| Duration of acute effects | Usually approximately 40–90 minutes, depending on the route of administration | Approximately 4–6 hours |
| Best-documented area | Depression, particularly treatment-resistant depression | Depressive disorders; existential distress associated with serious illness is also being investigated |
| Nature of the experience | Often a sense of detachment from the body and normal perception, changes in space, time and one’s relationship to oneself | More pronounced changes in perception, emotions, thinking and the experience of meaning |
| Availability in the CDR | The KAP programme is available following a professional assessment | Not yet available |
It is not possible to say in general terms that one substance is better than the other. The choice depends on the diagnosis, previous treatment, physical and mental state, medication being taken, risk factors and the availability of the treatment in question.
At present, ketamine has a broader clinical track record, a shorter duration of acute effects and the best-documented rapid onset of action for depression. Psilocybin induces a longer and generally more intense psychedelic experience, and its therapeutic use is only just being introduced into the Czech healthcare system.
The suitability of a particular treatment cannot therefore be determined solely on the basis of a diagnosis or personal preference. An individual medical assessment is always required.
Štěpánka Hnízdilová works as a healthcare coordinator at the Beroun Centre for Mental Rehabilitation. In her work, she combines organisational skills with a caring, approachable and empathetic manner. What she values most about her work is the opportunity to be part of a team that helps people through important life situations. She considers open communication, mutual respect, reliability and, above all, the ability to listen to be priorities. She strives to approach patients in such a way that they feel welcomed, understood and respected.
Česky
