Psychedelic training program development: lessons from the evolution of the EMBARK program.
Frontiers in psychology January 1, 2025 William Brennan, Melissa Field, Catherine Schon et al.
The EMBARK training program for session monitors in clinical trials of psychedelic treatments was developed iteratively by Cybin, Inc. The program has been used in two completed and three ongoing clinical trials. This article describes the three phases of development, including core components, successes, lessons learned, and rationale for changes. The most recent iteration, EMBARKCT, used in Phase 3 trials, incorporates artificial intelligence with expert human oversight to identify when session monitors need additional support and training. Recommendations for the field are also discussed.