Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign spending is facing renewed scrutiny after federal filings revealed nearly $19,000 paid to a psychiatrist known for using unconventional mental health treatments, including ketamine-based therapy.
According to Federal Election Commission records, Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign paid Dr. Brian Boyle, a Boston-based psychiatrist, a total of $18,725 across three transactions in 2025.
The payments were categorized as “leadership training and consulting,” though the campaign has not provided further detail about the nature of the services or who participated.
Boyle serves as chief psychiatric officer at Stella, a network of clinics specializing in what is often described as “interventional psychiatry.” His work focuses on treatment-resistant conditions such as depression, PTSD, and anxiety, and includes therapies like ketamine infusions and stellate ganglion block, an anesthetic procedure targeting the body’s stress response system.
These approaches have gained attention in recent years, particularly among high-income and high-profile clients, but remain the subject of ongoing medical debate.
The expenditures have prompted criticism from some ethics watchdogs, who question whether such services qualify as legitimate campaign-related expenses. Federal campaign finance law generally prohibits the use of campaign funds for personal purposes, and critics argue that labeling psychiatric services as “leadership training” may fall into a gray area requiring closer examination.
At the same time, Ocasio-Cortez has been a consistent advocate for expanding research into alternative mental health treatments. She has supported legislative efforts to study psychedelics such as psilocybin and MDMA for therapeutic use, citing early research suggesting potential benefits for certain conditions.
She has also spoken publicly about her own experiences with stress and trauma, including seeking therapy following the January 6 Capitol riot.
Medical experts remain divided on treatments like ketamine. While some studies indicate rapid benefits for patients with severe depression, clinicians caution that such therapies carry risks, including dissociation and potential psychological side effects if not administered under strict medical supervision.
