Authors: Anton L. V. Avanceña; James G. Kahn; Elliot Marseille · Research
Can MDMA-Assisted Therapy Help Treat Severe PTSD? A Cost-Benefit Analysis
Analysis shows MDMA-assisted therapy could save lives and reduce healthcare costs while helping people with severe PTSD
Source: Avanceña, A. L. V., Kahn, J. G., & Marseille, E. (2022). The Costs and Health Benefits of Expanded Access to MDMA‑assisted Therapy for Chronic and Severe PTSD in the USA: A Modeling Study. Clinical Drug Investigation, 42, 243-252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40261-022-01122-0
What you need to know
- MDMA-assisted therapy shows promise as a treatment for severe PTSD that hasn’t responded to other treatments
- Making this therapy available to 25-75% of eligible patients could save 43,000-106,000 lives over 10 years
- The treatment could save the healthcare system $109-266 billion while improving patient outcomes
The Challenge of Treating Severe PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects millions of Americans each year, with particularly high rates among military veterans. While some people recover with standard treatments, many develop chronic, severe PTSD that doesn’t improve with current options. This takes an enormous toll - not just on individuals and families, but also on the healthcare system through increased medical costs and hospital stays.
A Promising New Approach
Recent clinical trials have tested a new treatment approach that combines psychotherapy with MDMA (also known as ecstasy when used recreationally). During the treatment, patients receive MDMA in a controlled therapeutic setting along with support from trained therapists. This allows them to process traumatic memories and emotions in a new way.
The results have been remarkable - patients showed significant improvements in their PTSD symptoms compared to those who received therapy with a placebo. Many maintained these benefits years later.
Understanding the Potential Impact
Researchers wanted to understand what would happen if this treatment became widely available to people with severe PTSD. They created mathematical models to estimate the effects of making MDMA-assisted therapy available to different percentages of eligible patients over 10 years.
The analysis looked at three scenarios - providing treatment to 25%, 50%, or 75% of eligible patients. They calculated impacts on:
- Lives saved
- Quality of life improvements
- Healthcare costs
The Findings
The results showed substantial benefits across all scenarios. Even at the lowest level of implementation (25% of eligible patients):
- Over 43,000 lives could be saved
- Patients would gain 3.3 million “quality-adjusted life years” - a measure that combines length and quality of life
- The healthcare system would save $109 billion
At the highest implementation level (75%), the benefits increased to:
- Nearly 107,000 lives saved
- 8.2 million quality-adjusted life years gained
- $266 billion in healthcare savings
What This Means for You
If you or someone you love has PTSD that hasn’t improved with standard treatments, MDMA-assisted therapy may offer new hope once it becomes available. The treatment involves:
- Three preparatory therapy sessions
- Three 8-hour MDMA sessions with two trained therapists
- Nine follow-up integration sessions
While the therapy requires a significant time commitment, the research suggests it could provide lasting relief from PTSD symptoms for many people who haven’t been helped by other approaches.
Conclusions
- MDMA-assisted therapy shows strong potential as a treatment for severe PTSD that hasn’t responded to other options
- Making this treatment widely available could save tens of thousands of lives while reducing healthcare costs
- The benefits appear robust across different scenarios and assumptions