Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PSYCHEDELICS PROTOCOL COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND METHODS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to computer-implemented methods and systems for
psychedelics protocols.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Scientific research into the potential mental health benefits of psychedelics,
such
as psilocybin, DMT, LSD, mescaline and MDMA for example, has intensified in
recent years as a result of promising new studies and discoveries. In 2019 for
example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted a "Breakthrough
Therapy" designation to psilocybin treatment, for treatment-resistant major
depression disorder, and for major depressive disorder generally.
The recent renewal of scientific interest in psychedelics follows a period of
decades of comparative inattention, during which research was stymied by
issues of legality and politics. In many ways, therefore, the scientific and
medical
study of psychedelics is still in its infancy.
Recent PCT publication no. WO 2020/237394 brings database technology to
bear on bioactive products such as cannabis or psychedelics. A knowledge
graph database is organized according to specified product formulation,
methods
of delivery, and surveyed consumer outcomes, and customers are organized by
cohorts according to consumer profiles, allowing a consumer to be provided
with
a recommended formulation of a bioactive product.
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SUMMARY
In one aspect of the present description, the present inventors have defined
integration protocols and cleansing protocols to be used in conjunction with
psychedelics medicine protocols.
Integration and cleansing protocols are
typically non-medical protocols, i.e., protocols that consist of a combination
of
components that do not amount to methods of medical treatment. For example,
a cleansing protocol may precede a psychedelics medicine protocol, and may
consist of a combination of requirements for food, water, fasting, or
abstinence
for pre-defined periods of time preceding the administration of a psychedelic
compound during components of a psychedelics medicine protocol. As a further
example, an integration protocol may consist of a combination of activities
which,
although not amounting to methods of medical treatment, may nevertheless
provide ancillary wellness benefits in conjunction with those provided by the
psychedelics medicine protocol itself. Such integration activities may be
performed by the client on an ongoing basis, for periods preceding, during or
following a psychedelics medicine protocol, and may include activities such as
breathwork, meditation, journaling, music, yoga, muscle relaxation, guided
curiosity, etc.
In addition to activities, cleansing protocols and integration
protocols may also include repeated assessments to establish baseline and
ongoing psychometric data. An integration or cleansing protocol may include
one of a number of predefined or default protocols, or may be custom-created
for
a particular client by a medical practitioner and the client deciding upon a
specific
combination of activities and assessments that best suits the particular
client's
needs.
In another aspect of the present description, the present inventors have
integrated both biometric and psychometric data into a psychedelics protocols
database, to allow for intelligent automatic computer-implemented adjustment
of
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integration or cleansing protocols in response to the biometric and
psychometric
data for the client.
In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, a computer-implemented method
structures a client's participation in a psychedelics integration protocol.
The
method includes storing an integration protocol record for the client in a
psychedelics protocols database embodied in a physical computer-readable
storage medium. The integration protocol record defines an integration
protocol
for the client, the integration protocol including a plurality of components.
A
processor automatically selects, at each of a plurality of times specified by
the
integration protocol, one component of the plurality of components and sends
the
client a notification including a suggestion to perform the one component. In
response to the processor detecting repeated non-completion of a particular
component of the plurality of components, the processor automatically reduces
a
frequency at which the particular component is selected and included in the
suggestion to perform the one component.
In another illustrative embodiment of the invention, a computer-implemented
method structures a client's participation in a psychedelics integration or
cleansing protocol. The method includes storing an integration or cleansing
protocol record for the client in a psychedelics protocols database embodied
in a
physical computer-readable storage medium. The integration or cleansing
protocol record defines an integration or cleansing protocol for the client,
the
integration or cleansing protocol including a plurality of components. At each
of a
plurality of times specified by the integration or cleansing protocol, a
processor
automatically selects one component of the plurality of components and sends
the client a notification including a suggestion to perform the one component.
In
association with each of the plurality of components, the processor receives
and
stores in the psychedelics protocols database, at least one of: biometric data
representing at least one biometric of the client; and psychometric data
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indicative of at least one psychometric of the client. In response to the
processor
determining that the biometric data or the psychometric data associated with a
particular component of the plurality of components of the protocol satisfies
a
predefined condition, the processor automatically reduces a frequency at which
the particular component is selected and included in the suggestion to perform
the one component.
In another illustrative embodiment, a computer-implemented method of
monitoring a client's participation in a psychedelics medicine protocol,
includes a
processor receiving and storing, in a psychedelics protocols database embodied
in a physical computer-readable storage medium, biometric data representing at
least one biometric of the client while the client is participating in each of
a
plurality of components of the psychedelics medicine protocol. In response to
the processor determining that the biometric data during a particular
component
of the plurality of components deviates from a desired range for the
particular
component by more than a predefined threshold, the method further includes the
processor automatically alerting a clinician overseeing the particular
component.
In another illustrative embodiment, a computer system includes a psychedelics
protocols database embodied in a physical computer-readable storage medium,
the database storing a plurality of psychedelics protocol records defining
respective psychedelics protocols for a plurality of clients, each of the
protocols
comprising a plurality of components. The computer system further includes a
processor in communication with the database, and a computer-readable
medium in communication with the processor. The medium stores instructions
which, when executed by the processor, cause any one or more of the methods
described herein to be carried out.
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Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to
those
ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of
specific
embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention,
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a computer system
according to a first
embodiment of the invention, in communication with a plurality of
clients, a plurality of associated medical health professionals and a
plurality of associated clinicians;
Figure 2 is a tabular representation of a psychedelics protocol
record stored in
a psychedelics protocols database of the computer system of Fig. 1;
and
Figure 3 is a flow chart of an illustrative psychedelics protocol
structuring
method performed by a processor of the computer system of Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
System Overview
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a computer system according to a first
embodiment of
the invention is shown generally at 100 in Figure 1. In this embodiment, the
computer system 100 includes a psychedelics protocols database 102 embodied in
a physical computer-readable storage medium. The psychedelics protocols
database 102 stores a plurality of psychedelics protocol records such as that
shown
at 200 in Figure 2. The protocol records define respective psychedelics
protocols
for a plurality of clients, and each of the protocols includes a plurality of
components, as described in greater detail below.
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In this embodiment, the computer system 100 includes a processor 110 in
communication with the psychedelics protocols database 102, and a computer-
readable medium 104 in communication with the processor 110. The computer-
readable medium 104 stores instructions which, when executed by the processor
110, cause the various methods described herein to be carried out.
In this embodiment, the computer system 100 further includes a medical
database
106 and a memory 108 in communication with the processor 110.
In the present embodiment, the computer system 100 is in communication with a
network 120, which in this embodiment includes the Internet. The computer
system
100 is in further communication, via the network 120, with a plurality of
clients 130,
a plurality of healthcare professionals 140 and a plurality of clinicians 150.
In this embodiment, each of the clients 130 is undergoing or scheduled to
undergo
a psychedelics protocol, which may include a psychedelics medicine protocol
prescribed by one of the health care professionals 140, involving the
administration
of a psychedelic substance in a clinical setting under the supervision of one
of the
clinicians 150. In conjunction with the medicine protocol, the psychedelics
protocol
for each client further includes a cleansing protocol to precede the medicine
protocol, and an integration protocol to be followed concurrently with or
after
completion of the medicine protocol.
In this embodiment, each of the clients 130 has a smartphone 132 and a
biometric
monitoring device 134, both in communication with the computer system 100 via
the network 120. If desired, each of the clients 130 may additionally or
alternatively
communicate with the computer system 100 via a desktop computer, tablet or any
other device in communication with the network 120.
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Similarly, in this embodiment each of the health care professionals 140 uses a
smartphone or tablet 142 and a desktop computer 144 to communicate with the
computer system 100 via the network 120. Likewise, in this embodiment each of
the clinicians 150 uses a smartphone or tablet 152 and a desktop computer 154
to
communicate with the computer system 100 via the network 120.
Psychedelics Protocol Records
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an illustrative psychedelics protocol record is
shown
generally at 200 in Figure 2. Generally, in this embodiment the psychedelics
protocols database 102 embodied in a physical computer-readable storage
medium, and stores one or more protocol records 200 for each client 130, each
protocol record defining a respective protocol for the client. More
particularly, for
each of the clients 130, in this embodiment the psychedelics protocols
database
102 stores records for at least one medicine protocol, and for a cleansing
protocol
and an integration protocol that correspond to the medicine protocol.
In this embodiment, the psychedelics protocols database 102 stores a plurality
of
psychedelics protocol records defining a plurality of respective "default"
protocols
that can be readily selected by a healthcare professional 140 for use by a
client
130. For example, in this embodiment the database 102 stores records defining
a
plurality of default psychedelic medicine protocols, including at least one
medicine
protocol for the administration of each respective one of a plurality of
psychedelic or
psychoactive compounds, which in this embodiment include psilocybin, DMT, LSD,
mescaline and MDMA. Alternatively, medicine protocols may be defined for other
psychedelic or psychoactive compounds, or combinations of such compounds.
In this embodiment, for each default psychedelics medicine protocol, the
psychedelics protocols database 102 stores at least one corresponding default
cleansing protocol and at least one corresponding default integration
protocol.
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Alternatively, larger numbers of default protocols may be stored in the
database
102 if desired. Or, as a further alternative, rather than selecting from among
a
plurality of "default" protocols, a set of psychedelics protocols may be
customized
for a particular client 130 by the client's healthcare professional 140 and by
the
client 130, through their respective interactions with the computer system 100
to
effectively add, drop or modify certain components in their protocols.
Generally,
unlike the medicine protocols which may include the administration of a drug
to a
client 130 under the supervision of a clinician 150, in this embodiment the
cleansing
protocols and integration protocols consist of components or activities that
do not
amount to methods of medical treatment, as described in greater detail below.
Figure 2 shows an illustrative example of a psychedelics protocol record 200.
In
this embodiment, the record 200 generally includes a plurality of fields for
storing
different types of data, including protocol definition fields 210, client
fields 220, diet
fields 230, activities fields 240, psychometrics fields 250, biometrics fields
260, and
history fields 270.
In this embodiment, the protocol definition fields 210 include a protocol type
field
212 and a protocol ID field 214. The protocol type field 212 stores an
identification
of a type of psychedelics protocol, which in this embodiment is one of three
predefined types: cleansing protocols, medicine protocols and
integration
protocols. The protocol ID field 214 stores a unique ID for each unique
protocol
(although each protocol can be assigned to more than one client, resulting in
more
than one psychedelics record 200 for the unique protocol, i.e. one record for
each
client). The protocol ID fields 214 may also store identifications of related
protocol
records: for example, the protocol ID fields 214 of the record 200 for each
one of
the cleansing, medicine and integration protocols for a particular client 130
also
store identifications of the protocol records defining the other two of these
protocols
for that client.
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In this embodiment, the client fields 220 include a client ID field 222 and a
client
calendar field 224. The client ID field 222 stores an identification of the
client 130 to
whom the record 200 relates. In this embodiment, the client ID field 222
stores
either a unique number identifying the client or an encryption of information
identifying the client, rather than storing information that legibly
identifies the client.
Alternatively, the client's name can be stored with appropriate permissions
and
security. In this embodiment, the client calendar field 224 stores a plurality
of times
that the client 130 is available for cleansing or integration activities or
assessments
if the record 200 pertains to a cleansing or integration protocol.
Alternatively, the
client calendar field 224 may store a schedule for a psychedelics medicine
protocol.
In this embodiment, the diet fields 230 include a plurality of diet-related
protocol
components, including food fields 232, water fields 234, and abstinence fields
236.
For example, if the record 200 defines a cleansing protocol preceding a
psilocybin
medicine protocol (with the corresponding medicine protocol being identified
as a
related protocol in the protocol ID fields 214 of the cleansing protocol
record 200),
the food and water fields 232 and 234 may contain instructions to eat a meal
and
drink water three hours before a scheduled component of the corresponding
psilocybin medicine protocol. Alternatively, other medicine protocols may
require
abstinence from alcohol, nicotine or other drugs or combinations of drugs for
a
predetermined period of time preceding a component of the medicine protocol,
in
which case the abstinence fields 236 of the corresponding cleansing protocol
record 200 may specify such abstinence requirements.
In the present embodiment, the activities fields 240 define a plurality of
activities
that can form part of a particular protocol. In this embodiment, the
activities fields
240 include at least the following: breathwork fields 241, meditation fields
242,
journaling fields 243, music fields 244, yoga fields 245, muscle relaxation
fields 246
and guided curiosity fields 247. Generally, the activities fields 240 allow
the
healthcare professional 140 and client 130 to select or de-select each of the
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activities 241 to 247, and to set a relative weight of each activity. In this
embodiment, the relative weight can range from zero (for an activity that is
omitted
from the protocol) to as high as one (for an activity that is the sole
activity of the
protocol). For example, if a particular integration protocol contains five
components
intended to be performed with equal frequency, then each activity would have a
relative weight of 0.2. Although the above examples of activities relate
primarily to
integration protocols and cleansing protocols, such activities may also be
provided
in medicine protocols if desired.
In this embodiment, the psychometrics fields 250 define psychometric
assessment
components of the protocol defined by the record 200. More particularly, in
this
embodiment the psychometrics fields 250 include sleep review fields 251,
cognitive
dissonance (CD) fields 252, mood report fields 253 and values clarification
fields
254. More particularly still, in this embodiment the sleep review fields 251
store
information defining questions or sets of questions for the processor 110 to
pose to
a client 130 regarding the client's sleep or sleep patterns. Similarly, in
this
embodiment the CD fields 252 store information defining cognitive dissonance
questions or sets of questions for the processor 110 to pose to the client
130, and
the mood report fields 253 store information defining mood-related questions
for the
processor 110 to pose to the client 130. In this embodiment, the values
clarification
fields 254 store information defining questions for the processor 110 to pose
to the
client 130 to clarify the client's values on a range of topics, which in this
embodiment include the following illustrative list of topics: family, career,
spirituality,
love, fun, nature, wealth, loyalty, friendship, fairness, and peace.
Generally, the
psychometrics fields 250 allow the healthcare professional 140 and the client
130 to
select or omit each of these types of assessment from the protocol, and to
select a
frequency with which each type of assessment should be repeated. For example,
in this embodiment the values clarification fields 254 are included in each
"default"
cleansing protocol to obtain an initial or baseline assessment of the values
of the
client 130 before commencing a medicine protocol, and likewise, in this
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embodiment the values clarification fields 254 are included in each "default"
integration protocol to mandate one or more subsequent reassessments of the
client's values.
In this embodiment, the biometrics fields 260 specify one or more types of
commonly available biometric inputs to be included in or omitted from the
protocol.
More particularly, in this embodiment the biometrics fields 260 include
resting heart
rate fields 261, heart rate variability fields 262, skin temperature
variability fields
263, breathing rate fields 264, oxygen saturation (Sp02) fields 265, and sleep
pattern fields 266. In this embodiment the fields 261 to 265 correspond to
biometric
data that can be obtained from commonly available biometric monitoring devices
134 such as a FitBitTM for example, and the field 266 relates to data that can
be
obtained from a typical smartphone 132 such as an iPhoneTM. Alternatively,
other
types of biometrics may be added or substituted. The biometrics fields 260
allow
the healthcare professional 140 and the client 130 to select or omit each of
these
types of biometric data from the protocol for the client 130, and to indicate
times
and any conditions for obtaining these biometric data.
In this embodiment, the history fields 270 may be used effectively track the
history
of a particular protocol, such as a "default" integration protocol. The
history fields
270 may include past instances fields 272 identifying the locations of other
records
in the database 102 of past instances of the same protocol (having the same
protocol ID 214). The history fields 270 may further include outcome scores
fields
274, including an outcome score for the current protocol record 200 for the
current
client 130, and an average of outcome scores for the past instances of the
same
protocol.
Prior to execution of the protocol structuring routine 300 by the processor
110, the
client 130 and the healthcare professional 140 will have created one or more
protocol records 200 defining one or more respective psychedelics protocols
for the
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client 130. Typically three protocol records 200 will be created for each
client 130,
including respective records for a cleansing protocol, a medicine protocol and
an
integration protocol.
Although a specific structure of a protocol record 200 has been described for
illustrative purposes, alternatively other structures may be substituted.
Protocol Structuring Routine
Referring to Figures 1-3, the protocol structuring routine is shown generally
at 300
in Figure 3. It will be appreciated that the protocol structuring routine 300
described
below merely provides one illustrative example of a routine in accordance with
an
embodiment of the invention. In other embodiments, different functions and
routines may be added or substituted.
In this embodiment, the protocol structuring routine 300 begins with blocks
302 and
304 of codes, which generally direct the processor 110 to automatically
select, at
each of a plurality of times specified by an integration or cleansing
protocol, one
component of the protocol, and to send the client a notification including a
suggestion to perform the one component.
To achieve this, block 302 first directs the processor 110 to determine
whether it is
time to suggest an activity of an integration or cleansing protocol to a
client 130. It
will be recalled that the client calendar fields 224 of each psychedelics
protocol
record 200 may store indications of available times for the particular client
130 to
perform some of the components of an integration or cleansing protocol. For
example, the calendar fields 224 for an integration protocol for a particular
client
130 may indicate that the client 130 is available weekday evenings at 7 pm, or
weekend afternoons. Block 302 directs the processor 110 to search through the
database 102 to locate any psychedelics protocol records 200 that are
identified in
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their protocol type fields 212 as being either cleansing or integration
protocols, and
having client calendar fields 224 indicating that the client 130 has become
currently
available to participate in an activity of the protocol. For each such
identified
integration or cleansing protocol record 200 for which a client 130 is
currently
available, the processor is directed to blocks 304 to 334 below.
Following location of such a record 200 at block 302, in this embodiment block
304
directs the processor 110 to automatically select one component of the
protocol to
which the record 200 pertains, and to send to the relevant client 130 a
notification
including a suggestion to perform the one selected component of the protocol.
To
achieve this, in this embodiment block 304 directs the processor 110 to
randomly
select one of the activities components of the protocol, according to the
selection
weights stored in the relevant activities fields 240 for the respective
activities. For
example, an illustrative integration protocol for a particular client 130
might involve
only four of the possible activities, e.g. yoga, breathwork, music and
journaling, but
might specify a preference for the particular client to do yoga twice as often
as each
of the other three activities. In this example, the breathwork fields 241,
journaling
fields 243, music fields 244, yoga fields 245 would store selection weights of
0.2,
0.2, 0.2 and 0.4 respectively, and block 304 would direct the processor 110 to
make
a weighted random selection with a 40% chance of selecting yoga, a 20% chance
of selecting breathwork, a 20% chance of selecting journaling and a 20% chance
of
selecting music.
Upon making a weighted random selection of an activity component of the
protocol
record 200, block 304 further directs the processor to send to the client 130
a
notification including a suggestion to perform the selected component. In this
embodiment, block 304 achieves this by directing the processor 110 to transmit
a
push notification to an application running on the smartphone 132 of the
client 130
to whom the located record 200 pertains. The application running on the
smartphone 132 responds to the push notification by displaying to the client
130 a
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suggestion to perform the selected component of the protocol. For example, if
the
selected component was "yoga," block 304 may direct the processor 110 to
prompt
the smartphone application to display a message, "How about some yoga now'?"
in
conjunction with displayed option buttons such as "yes" or "no".
In response to client actuation of a displayed "Yes" or "No" button, the
smartphone
application transmits an appropriate "acceptance" or "rejection" signal to the
processor 110 via the network 120. In this embodiment, the smartphone
application also opens an activity dashboard in the form of a visual graphical
interface displayed on the smartphone 132, allowing the client 130 to select
and
perform activity and assessment components of psychedelics cleansing and
integration protocols for the client.
If at block 304 a "Yes" (acceptance) response is received from the smartphone
132
by the processor 110, block 306 directs the processor 110 to increment an
acceptance counter in the relevant one of the activities fields 240 for the
currently
selected and suggested component of the protocol record 200, and to proceed to
block 314 below.
If at block 306 a "No" response is received from the smartphone 132 by the
processor 110, or if no response is received within a predefined interval,
block 310
directs the processor 110 to determine whether the client 130 has selected an
alternative component of the protocol record. For example, in response to a
client
selection of "No" or a failure to respond, the smartphone application may use
the
activity dashboard to ask the client 130 if they would like to perform a
different
component specified in the protocol record 200. In response to input from the
client
130 selecting a different component of the protocol record 200, the smartphone
application transmits a message to the processor 110 via the network 120,
including an identification of the different component selected by the client
130. If
at block 310 the processor 110 receives such a message, block 312 directs the
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processor 110 to increment an acceptance counter in the relevant one of the
activities fields 240 for the different component of the protocol selected by
the client
130, and to proceed to block 314 below.
In this embodiment, block 314 directs the processor 110 to obtain and store
baseline biometrics and psychometrics data for the client 130, as the client
130
begins the selected component of the psychedelics cleansing or integration
protocol. In this embodiment, the actual biometric and psychometric input data
received from the client 130 is stored in a separate corresponding record in a
medical database 106, and the client identification number stored in the
client ID
field 222 acts as a cross-reference between the protocol record 200 and the
corresponding record in the medical database 106. Alternatively, if desired,
the
biometric and psychometric data may be stored in the psychedelics protocols
database 102, provided appropriate privacy and confidentiality safeguards are
adopted.
Block 314 first directs the processor 110 to begin receiving and storing each
of the
biometrics specified in the biometrics fields 260 of the currently addressed
protocol
record 200. For example, in a "default" integration protocol record 200, the
contents of the resting heart rate fields 261, heart rate variability fields
262, skin
temperature variability fields 263, breathing rate fields 264, and oxygen
saturation
(Sp02) fields 265 are all set "active" so that all five of these types of
biometric data
are included in the integration protocol. In this embodiment, block 314
directs the
processor 110 to receive each of these five biometric data types from the
biometric
monitoring device 134 of the client 130, and also directs the processor 110 to
receive the most recent sleep pattern data from the smartphone 132 of the
client
130, as specified by "active" contents of the sleep pattern data fields 266 of
the
current protocol record 200. Block 314 directs the processor 110 to store each
of
these six biometric data types in a record in the medical database 106
corresponding to the currently addressed protocol record 200.
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Block 314 then directs the processor 110 to obtain baseline psychometric data
at
the commencement of the component of the protocol. For example, the activities
fields 240 for the current component of the protocol record 200 may specify
one or
more questions to be posed to the client 130 at the commencement of the
component, such as, "Do you feel happy?" or "Do you feel sad?" Alternatively,
block 314 may direct the processor 110 to pose predefined questions to the
client
130 specified in one or more of the various psychometrics fields 250 for the
currently addressed protocol record 200.
In this embodiment, block 316 then directs the processor 110 to monitor the
biometric data received from the biometric monitoring device 134 and to
compare
the received data to predefined thresholds associated with dangerous
conditions.
For example, the client identification fields 220 may store a maximum heart
rate for
the particular client 130 (e.g. 220 minus the client's age), in which case
block 316
may direct the processor to monitor the heart rate data received from the
biometric
monitoring device 134 to determine whether the current heart rate of the
client 130
exceeds the maximum heart rate stored for the client. As a further example of
a
dangerous condition, block 316 may also direct the processor 110 to monitor
skin
temperature data received from the biometric monitoring device 134 and compare
the received skin temperature to a predefined threshold associated with
hyperthermia (e.g. 39 or 40 degrees Celsius).
If at block 316 a dangerous condition is detected from the biometric data,
then
block 318 directs the processor 110 to generate and send appropriate alerts to
the
client 130 and to the client's healthcare professional 140, to alert the
client 130 to
cease the current activity / component and to alert both the client and the
healthcare professional 140 to the occurrence of the dangerous condition.
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Block 318 directs the processor 110 to determine whether the current activity
/
component of the protocol has been completed, by checking each of a plurality
of
predefined conditions. As examples of the predefined conditions, block 318 may
direct the processor 110 to determine whether it has received a message from
the
smartphone application running on the smartphone 132, indicating that the
client
130 has used the activity dashboard in the smartphone application to mark the
current component of the protocol as completed. Alternatively, it may be
assumed
that each type of activity has been completed when a predetermined
characteristic
time interval has elapsed since their commencement.
If the current component of the protocol has not yet completed, block 322
directs
the processor 110 to continue monitoring and storing biometric data received
from
the biometrics monitoring device 134, and the processor is directed back to
blocks
316 to 320 to continue monitoring the biometric data for dangerous conditions
until
the current component of the protocol is completed.
If at block 320 it is determined that the current component of the protocol
has
completed, block 324 directs the processor 110 to obtain further psychometric
data.
For example, in this embodiment the activities fields 240 for each activity
component of the protocol specify specific questions to be posed to the client
130
upon completion of an instance of the component of the protocol, such as, "Do
you
feel better now?" Alternatively, block 324 may direct the processor 110 to
pose
further questions to the client selected from those stored in the
psychometrics fields
250 of the current protocol record 200.
In this embodiment, block 326 then directs the processor 110 to automatically
reduce a frequency at which the particular component is selected and suggested
to
the client as discussed at block 304 above, in response to the processor
determining that the biometric data or the psychometric data associated with
the
currently completed component of the protocol satisfies a predefined
adjustment
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condition. In this regard, the activities fields 240 for each of the
components of the
protocol may specify specific expected ranges for biometric data, as well as
expected conditions for psychometric data to satisfy, for the particular
component.
For example, for a "journaling" component of the protocol, it may be expected
that
the client's resting heart rate should remain below a threshold rate and not
increase
by more than a threshold amount associated with an onset of anxiety, so a
departure from this expectation is an example of a biometric adjustment
condition.
Similarly, it may be expected that the client's mood or disposition will not
suddenly
worsen after completion of the component of the protocol, so a departure from
this
expectation (by comparing the psychometric data obtained at blocks 324 and 314
above) is an example of a psychometric adjustment condition. If at block 326 a
biometric or psychometric adjustment condition is detected, then block 326
further
directs the processor 110 to readjust the selection weights of the components
as
stored in their respective activities fields 240 of the currently addressed
protocol
record 200. For example, if the journaling fields 243 of the current protocol
record
200 initially specified a selection weight of 0.2 representing a 20% chance of
journaling being randomly selected and suggest at block 304, block 326 may
direct
the processor 110 to update the selection weights of the activities fields 240
for the
various components of the protocol, by reducing the selection weight of the
journaling component by (e.g.) 25% to 0.16, and by redistributing the
difference of
0.04 among the suggestion weights of the other activity components of the
protocol.
Following execution of block 326, the processor is directed back to block 302.
If at block 310 above the client 130 declined to choose any component of the
protocol, then block 328 directs the processor 110 to generate missed activity
notifications. In this embodiment, block 328 directs the processor 110 to send
such
a missed activity notification only to the healthcare professional 140 and not
directly
to the client 130, in an attempt to avoid nagging or shaming the client 130,
either of
which might deter the client's compliance with the protocol. In this
embodiment, the
processor 110 sends a missed-event notification message to the healthcare
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-29
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professional 140 via a graphical interface generated on the healthcare
professional's computer 144 or smartphone 142. The graphical interface
presents
the healthcare professional 140 with options, such as whether to telephone the
client, or manually adjust the selection weights of the components of the
protocol.
Block 330 then directs the processor 110 to increment a rejection counter
stored in
the relevant activities fields 240 for the component that was suggested to the
client
above at block 304.
In this embodiment, blocks 332 and 334 then direct the processor 110 to
automatically reduce a frequency at which a particular component is selected
and
included in the suggestion at block 304, in response to the processor 110
detecting
repeated non-completion of the particular component. More particularly, block
332
directs the processor 110 to determine whether a rejection threshold has been
exceeded for the component that was suggested to the client at block 304. To
achieve this, block 332 directs the processor 110 to compare an acceptance
counter and a rejection counter stored in the activities fields 240 of the
component
that was suggested to the client at block 304. In this embodiment, if the
total
rejection percentage exceeds a first threshold, or if the rejection percentage
in the
most recent time period exceeds a second threshold, block 332 directs the
processor 110 to decrease the selection weight of the component that was
suggested at block 304. This reduction may be achieved in the same way as
described above in connection with block 326 for example. Following a
reduction of
the selection weight of the rejected component at block 334, the processor 110
is
directed back to block 302.
If at block 302 there are no more current activity suggestions to be made to
clients
130, block 336 then directs the processor 110 to determine whether it is time
for
one or more psychometric assessments. In this regard, for a particular
protocol
record 200, the psychometrics fields 250 for one or more of the available
types of
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psychoactive assessments may be set active so that they are included in the
protocol, and the client's calendar 224 may include an indication of times at
which
the client 130 should be prompted to provide specific psychometric input for
each
one of the selected assessment types. Block 336 directs the processor 110 to
search the database 102 for any records 200 for which it is time to solicit
psychometric inputs from the client, and upon locating any such records at
block
336, block 338 directs the processor 110 to prompt the client 130 to provide
the
specified psychometric inputs, such as answers to specific questions.
In this embodiment, if at block 336 no further records 200 are identified for
which it
is time to request psychometric input, block 340 directs the processor 110 to
determine whether any psychedelics medicine protocol components are
commencing or are in progress. For example, a psilocybin medicine protocol may
involve the client 130 visiting one of the clinicians 150, to undergo
administration of
the psilocybin by the clinician and within the supervised confines of the
clinic.
Upon detecting such a medicine protocol component commencing or in progress at
block 340, block 342 directs the processor 110 to begin receiving and storing,
in the
psychedelics protocols database 102, biometric data representing at least one
biometric of the client 130 while the client is participating in the
psychedelics
medicine protocol component. In this embodiment the processor 110 receives the
biometric data from the biometric monitoring device 134 and from the
smartphone
132 of the client 130.
Block 344 then directs the processor 110 to detect any one of a plurality of
predefined conditions from the received biometric data. For example, detecting
a
predefined condition may include determining that the current biometric data
deviates from a desired range for the current component of the medicine
protocol
by more than a predefined threshold. Thus, for example, detecting predefined
conditions may include detecting any of the dangerous conditions described
above
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-29
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in connection with block 316, such as critically high heart rate or skin
temperature,
for example. Additionally, the predefined conditions may include conditions
which,
though not dangerous, may nevertheless warrant intervention by the clinician.
For
example, a heart rate elevated well above rest levels but also well below the
client's
maximum heart rate may suggest client anxiety, suggesting that a calming
intervention may be desirable.
Upon detecting any such predefined condition at block 344, block 346 directs
the
processor 110 to automatically alerting a clinician 150 overseeing the current
component of the medicine protocol, in response to the processor xxx,
send an alert message to the clinician 150 via the network 120 and the
clinician's
computer 154 or smartphone 152. In this embodiment, the alert includes an
identification of the cause of the alert (e.g., elevated heart rate), and a
predefined
suggested intervention corresponding to the identified cause (e.g., reassure
the
client verbally, or change to more soothing background music, etc.).
Block 348 directs the processor 110 to determine whether the medicine protocol
component has concluded, and if not, the processor 110 may be directed back to
block 342 to continue monitoring biometric data and checking for intervention
conditions as described at blocks 344 and 346.
If at block 348 it is determined that the medicine protocol component has
completed, block 350 directs the processor 110 to determine whether all
protocols
in the database 102 have been fully completed, and if not, the processor is
directed
back to blocks 302, 336 and 340 to continue structuring cleansing and
integration
protocol activities and assessments, and to continue monitoring medicine
protocols,
as described above.
Alternatives
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-29
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The above description is merely illustrative. Other ways of structing
cleansing and
integration protocols, and other ways of monitoring medicine protocols, may be
substituted.
Although blocks 342 to 346 described generating alert notifications during a
psychedelics medicine protocol component in response to biometric information,
alternatively such notifications may be generated in response to psychometric
information, or a combination of biometric and psychometric information, in a
manner similar to that described above in connection with block 326.
Although the above-described embodiments involved psychometric information
being extracted from clients 130 primarily through questioning, alternatively,
other
ways of obtaining psychometric data may be substituted. For example, journal
entries or recorded audio speech or video recordings of the client may be
analyzed
by a Machine Learning (ML) algorithm to automatically detect a sentiment or
mood
of the client 130.
Although the above description has focused on protocols such as integration
and
cleansing protocols that are ancillary to a psychedelics medicine protocol,
alternatively the methods described herein may be applied to integration and
cleansing protocols that are ancillary to other medical treatment protocols.
In addition to the embodiments described above, it is contemplated that any
one or
more features of any particular embodiment may be combined with any one or
more features of any other embodiment, except where such features have been
explicitly described as mutually exclusive alternatives.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and
illustrated,
such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and
not as
limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying
claims.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-29
