Study design · Psychedelic therapiesUpdated September 29, 2026

EDC for psychedelic trials, built around the dosing session

Psychedelic trials combine psychotherapy, long monitored dosing sessions, intensive safety assessment and scheduled substances. Capture structures preparation, dosing and integration visits, session vitals and safety forms, and kit accountability in one study.

  • Session monitoring forms
  • C-SSRS and safety in one study
  • Kit accountability under e-signature

Free sandbox · No credit card · 21 CFR Part 11 aligned

Schedule of assessments · Psilocybin trial
AssessmentScrPrep 1Prep 2DoseInt 1Int 2W6W12
Primary rating scale
C-SSRS
Session vitals (repeated)
Acute experience questionnaire
Integration session log

Prep = preparation, Int = integration

Therapy and dosing visits in one schedule

What matters in psychedelic trials

  • FDA issued draft guidance on clinical investigations of psychedelic drugs in 2023, covering topics such as abuse potential, safety monitoring during and after dosing sessions, and the role of psychotherapy.
  • Dosing sessions last several hours, with monitoring of vital signs, adverse events and psychological state, and specific criteria for discharge.
  • Functional unblinding is a central challenge: participants and therapists often guess the treatment from its effects, so design choices and blinding assessments matter.
  • Suicidality monitoring, for example with the C-SSRS, is expected throughout, particularly in depression trials.
  • Many psychedelics are controlled substances, so storage, dispensing and accountability records must be complete.

Study design

Therapy, dosing and integration in one schedule

A typical psychedelic trial includes preparation sessions before dosing, one or more long dosing sessions with trained monitors present, and integration sessions afterwards. Each session type has its own data: therapist notes on preparation, repeated vital signs and adverse events during dosing, and integration attendance. The study schedule needs to hold all of them, with windows that keep dosing and follow-up in the right order.

Endpoints are usually clinician-rated scales for the condition (for depression or PTSD, for example the PCL-5 for self-report alongside clinician-rated measures), measured at fixed times after dosing to assess how long effects last. Acute subjective effects during the session are often measured with validated questionnaires shortly afterwards.

Protecting the blind

Independent raters who are not present at dosing sessions and do not know the session content are commonly used for primary outcomes. Asking participants and raters to guess the allocation at the end helps quantify functional unblinding. Blinded roles in Capture never receive the treatment arm from the server.

Study coordinator

Subject 01-004

Randomized · R-0012

Treatment assignment blinded

KitK-10418

Arm columnNot sent

Unblinded administrator

Subject 01-004

Randomized · R-0012

Treatment: Active (A)

KitK-10418

Arm columnA

Same subject, same screen. The arm never reaches blinded roles.

Dosing sessions

Repeated monitoring during the session

Session vitals and observations are recorded as repeating rows with times, each row carrying its own audit trail. Adverse events use the AE form with the minimum dataset enforced, and serious events raise routed safety alerts straight away. Discharge criteria can be recorded as a checklist on the session form.

  • Repeating rows for timed vitals.
  • AE form with minimum dataset.
  • Routed safety alerts for serious events.
Vital signs eCRF template
Adverse event · 01-004
AE term *Headache
Onset date *UNK-JUN-2026
Serious? *Yes
Severity / CTCAE grade *Grade 2
Causality to IMP *Required when serious
Save draftSubmit

Cannot submit yet

Causality is required because the event is serious.

Controlled substances

Kit dispensing and accountability under e-signature

Randomisation, kit dispensing and drug accountability run in the same system as the EDC. Kits are dispensed under electronic signature, accountability reports and CSV exports are available, and blinded roles see "Treatment assignment blinded" everywhere.

  • Kit dispensing under e-signature.
  • Accountability report and export.
  • Blinded and unblinded roles.
RTSM software
Dispense IMP · Week 4
Occasion
Kits
Verify
Sign

1 of 2 kits confirmed

K-10418B-2207 · exp 03-2027
K-10419B-2207 · exp 03-2027
Sign stays disabled: confirm all 2 kits before signing.

Build a dosing session form with timed vitals

Set it up in the free sandbox.

Build your psychedelic study free

Data map

Psychedelic trial data by session type

SessionData
ScreeningEligibility, psychiatric history, suicidality, cardiovascular screening, prohibited medications
PreparationAttendance, therapist, session duration
DosingDose and time, repeated vitals, observations, adverse events, discharge criteria
Post-dosingAcute experience questionnaires, overnight follow-up if required
IntegrationAttendance, therapist, duration
Follow-upPrimary and secondary scales, suicidality, durability of effect

Study build

Psychedelic study build checklist

Session types

Preparation, dosing and integration visits with windows.

Session monitoring

Timed vitals, observations and discharge criteria.

Independent raters

Primary outcome raters separated from sessions.

Blinding assessment

Allocation guesses from participants and raters.

Suicidality

C-SSRS at every contact where required.

Controlled substance records

Dispensing and accountability complete.

FAQ

Questions teams ask before they switch

Something not covered here? Ask us directly.

How long is a dosing session?

Typically several hours, depending on the drug, with monitoring throughout and defined discharge criteria.

Are preparation and integration sessions recorded?

Yes, as scheduled visits with attendance, therapist and duration fields.

Is there regulatory guidance for psychedelic trials?

Yes. FDA issued draft guidance on clinical investigations of psychedelic drugs in 2023. Check the current status and any national requirements.

What is functional unblinding?

When participants or staff can tell which treatment was given from its effects, which can bias outcomes. Independent raters and blinding assessments help manage it.

Can vitals be recorded repeatedly during a session?

Yes, as repeating rows with times, each with its own audit trail.

How is drug accountability handled?

Kits are dispensed under electronic signature, with accountability reports and exports in the same system as the EDC.

Is suicidality assessment supported?

Yes. The C-SSRS template can be scheduled at every contact.

Can I try it free?

Yes, in the free sandbox with every feature.

Psychedelic trials, structured end to end

Sessions, safety and accountability in one study. Free sandbox.

Build your psychedelic study free