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Virtual reality and psychedelics: new perspectives and new possibilities in the treatment of alcohol use disorder

Summary

This article discusses how virtual reality technology that simulates psychedelic experiences could improve treatment for alcohol addiction. Virtual reality simulations can mimic the brain effects of psychedelics like psilocybin, and could help prepare patients for treatment, extend its benefits, or even work as a standalone therapy. This innovation could make psychedelic-assisted therapy more accessible and easier to standardize across different treatment centers.

Background

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major public health crisis with limited effective treatment options. Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) has shown promise for AUD treatment based on historical research and recent trials, but faces implementation challenges. Virtual reality applications simulating psychedelic experiences may help address these challenges.

Objective

To explore how virtual reality simulations of psychedelic phenomenology (VRP) can be integrated into psychedelic-assisted therapy to improve treatment efficacy, accessibility, and research design for alcohol use disorder.

Results

Evidence demonstrates that VR simulations using DeepDream can replicate neurophysiological markers of psychedelic experiences, including increased gamma band connectivity and enhanced cognitive flexibility comparable to psilocybin. VRP may serve multiple roles: preparing patients for psychedelics, extending therapeutic effects, facilitating integration, standardizing treatment protocols, and providing effective blinding in clinical trials.

Conclusion

Virtual reality simulations of psychedelic phenomenology represent a promising complement to psychedelic-assisted therapy, potentially improving accessibility, standardization, and clinical outcomes while addressing implementation challenges. VRP may enable investigation of whether therapeutic benefits depend on subjective psychedelic experience or underlying neurobiological mechanisms.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Psychiatry,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 41323491, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1448043
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