Digital Enablement of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Non-Clinical Settings: A Systematic Review of Safety, Efficacy, and Implementation Models
Psychoactives December 24, 2025 Brendan Driscoll, Shaheen E. Lakhan 1 citation
A systematic review of six studies involving 12,731 participants examined digitally enabled psychedelic-assisted therapy delivered outside clinical settings, mostly at-home ketamine or esketamine supported by telehealth or mobile apps. Digital tools enabled high response rates for depression (56.4% to 62.8%) and rapid symptom improvement, particularly for depression and anxiety. Remote monitoring was feasible and acceptable, but serious safety concerns emerged, including psychiatric adverse events and one unintentional overdose, highlighting the need for strict oversight. One study on virtual ayahuasca rituals noted sociocultural potential and limitations. The field lacks controlled trials and has moderate to serious risk of bias across non-randomized studies, limiting confidence in findings.