The psychedelic effect on healthcare technology

Having grown up in the Timothy Leary era I find it almost that nearly 60 years after the legendary mantra “Turn on, Tune In, Drop Out,” psychedelics are trendy again but now in highly reputable medical and mental health circles.  

Given the rapid pace of digital transformation, psychedelics and healthcare technology are co-evolving with what many feel offers immense potential. As research into the therapeutic applications of psychedelics grows, so too does the development of various advanced technologies to support and enhance psychedelic-assisted therapies. 

I will preface this article by saying that many like myself feel that psychedelic therapies have a branding problem. The term itself triggers an “Are you kidding me?” response from even the most liberal of recreational and medicinal drug users. Let’s think of a new name. But I digress.  

So while at times these therapies are hotly debated, proponents highlight the potential benefits:  

• Enhanced Therapeutic Outcomes: Technology can improve the effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted therapy by providing tailored support and monitoring.
• Increased Access: Digital tools can expand access to psychedelic therapy for patients in remote or underserved areas.
• Accelerated Research: Technology can streamline drug discovery and clinical trials, leading to faster development of new treatments. 

So where does this psychedelic tech nexus embody itself?  

Digital Therapeutics 

• The evolution of Virtual Reality (VR), Extended Reality (XR), and Augmented Reality (AR) have created immersive environments for psychedelic experiences, providing controlled and therapeutic settings. The thought of taking a psychedelic while wearing a VR headset borders on science fiction.  
• Biofeedback and neurofeedback provide real-time monitoring of physiological responses and can help therapists understand and guide patients through psychedelic experiences. 
• Mobile apps can now support pre- and post-treatment integration, providing tools for journaling, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). 

 AI and Machine Learning 

• Drug discovery aided by AI can accelerate the discovery of new psychedelic compounds with desired therapeutic effects and reduced side effects. 
• Patient data analysis driven by machine learning can analyze patient data to identify predictors of treatment response and optimize treatment plans. 
• Virtual therapists leveraging AI-powered chatbots could provide initial screening, education, and support for patients considering psychedelic therapy.  

Data and Privacy 

• New forms of secure data storage are giving greater assurances for protecting sensitive patient data, including psychedelic experiences, is crucial. Despite its growing acceptance, patients are still leery (no pun intended) about having psychedelics on their medical records.
• Data analytics used to de-identified data can provide valuable insights into treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. 

Challenges and Considerations 

• Stigma: Many cannot comprehend the thought of using LSD-like therapies for medical benefits much like the doubters about cannabis being used in mental health settings before legalization.  
• Regulatory landscape: The legal and regulatory environment for psychedelics is complex and evolving. That said the decriminalization of certain mainstream mind-altering drugs is increasing acceptance, especially in younger generations. 
• Ethical considerations: The use of technology in psychedelic therapy raises ethical questions about privacy, consent, and potential biases in AI algorithms.
• Clinical validation: Rigorous research is needed to establish the efficacy and safety of psychedelic-assisted therapies and the supporting technologies. Many will want evidence that one can be weaned from psychedelics.  
• Affordable accessibility: Ensuring equitable access to psychedelic therapies and related technologies is essential. The combination of an inability to afford these therapies and the underlying technologies that will monitor outcomes parallels equity in healthcare as a whole.
• Reimbursement: Not unlike the regulatory landscape the acceptance of these therapies among payers is still in its infancy.  Do major insurers want to publicize that they’re paying for supplies of LSD!? 

 The convergence of psychedelics and healthcare technology holds the promise of revolutionizing some aspects of mental health treatment. By addressing the numerous challenges and capitalizing on the documented outcomes, this field has the potential to significantly improve the lives of countless individuals who would have never dreamt that this would be a part of their treatment plan.