Article By Frank Bergman
Radical Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) spent nearly $19,000 in campaign funds on mental health treatments with a Boston-area psychiatrist, while misrepresenting the payments, records show.
According to federal filings, Ocasio-Cortez received the treatments last year.
The psychiatrist, Dr. Brian Boyle, is affiliated with a network of clinics offering ketamine-based mental health treatments.
Disclosures submitted to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) show that Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign paid a total of $18,725 in 2025 to Dr. Boyle, chief psychiatric officer at Stella Mental Health.
Payments Labeled as ‘Leadership Training and Consulting’
The campaign made three separate payments to Boyle, all categorized as “leadership training and consulting.”
The payments included $11,550 in March, $2,800 in May, and $4,375 in October.
It remains unclear what specific services or treatments were provided.
Psychiatrist Specializes in Ketamine Treatments
Boyle is a Harvard Medical School graduate who previously served as an attending psychiatrist at McLean Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, according to the New York Post.
He specializes in interventional psychiatry, a field that includes treatments such as intravenous ketamine infusions, Spravato nasal spray, and transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Stella Mental Health markets these treatments to patients suffering from conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety, particularly those who have not responded to conventional therapies.
Ketamine Treatments Draw Growing Attention and Scrutiny
Ketamine, originally developed as an anesthetic, has gained attention in recent years for its potential to provide rapid relief for severe depression.
The FDA-approved form of the drug, esketamine nasal spray, marketed as Spravato, is authorized for use under strict medical supervision and regulatory controls.
Patients receiving Spravato must be monitored for at least two hours after administration due to risks including dissociation, sedation, and elevated blood pressure.
By contrast, intravenous ketamine treatments offered by private clinics are not FDA-approved for psychiatric use and lack long-term safety data.
Questions Remain About Campaign Spending
The campaign’s decision to classify the payments as “leadership training and consulting” has raised questions about the nature of the services provided.
Federal election filings do not provide further detail, leaving unclear whether the payments were related to medical treatment, advisory services, or another form of consulting.
The expenditures are likely to draw additional scrutiny as ketamine-based treatments continue to expand in popularity while remaining the subject of ongoing medical and regulatory debate.
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