This decision analysis model study (n=1000 simulated PTSD patients) evaluates the cost-effectiveness of group MDMA-assisted therapy with supplemental individual therapy for PTSD in Ukraine. It finds treatment costs $1.1M, averts 19.2 deaths, and gains 717 QALYs over 3 years, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $1537 per QALY. From a societal perspective, the intervention generates $2.6M in net savings, and scaling to 50% of eligible patients over 10 years could save 48,000 lives and gain 1.5M QALYs.
Abstract of The Potential Economic and Public Health Impact of MDMA‐Assisted Group Therapy for PTSD in Ukraine
“The war in Ukraine has led to widespread trauma, with 6.4 million people suffering from severe, chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness and societal impact of implementing modified group MDMA-assisted therapy (MAT), with supplemental individual therapy for PTSD treatment in Ukraine. Using a decision analysis model, we estimated clinical benefits, costs, and cost-effectiveness of MAT for 1000 PTSD patients in Ukraine. The model incorporates PTSD severity, mortality rates, healthcare costs, productivity effects, and caregiver costs. We analyzed outcomes from healthcare payer and societal perspectives over 1-, 3-, and 5-year horizons, projecting scaled-up impacts for 25%, 50%, and 75% of eligible patients over 10 years. Assuming 3 years of MAT efficacy, treating 1000 patients would cost $1.1 million, avert 19.2 deaths and gain 717 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). From a healthcare payer’s perspective, MAT is cost-effective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $1537 per QALY gained and a net monetary benefit of $2843. From a partial societal perspective, MAT generates net savings of $2.6 million. Scaled to 50% of eligible patients over 10 years, MAT could save 48,000 lives and gain 1.5 million QALYs, with net societal savings of $5.6 billion. Making MAT available for PTSD treatment in Ukraine is likely to be cost-effective or cost-saving, while substantially improving health outcomes. These findings support consideration of MAT as part of Ukraine’s strategy to address widespread mental health needs.“
Authors: Elliot Marseille, Olga Chernoloz & Oleh Orlov
Summary of The Potential Economic and Public Health Impact of MDMA‐Assisted Group Therapy for PTSD in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine has led to widespread trauma among civilians, creating an urgent mental health crisis. Many individuals are suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which not only harms psychological well-being but also increases the risk of suicide. In countries such as the United States, veterans with PTSD are known to die by suicide at high rates, highlighting the severity of untreated trauma. Recovery from PTSD is associated with reduced suicidality and lower mortality risks, underscoring the importance of effective interventions .
Existing treatments for PTSD, including medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), often provide only partial relief. Nearly half of patients do not achieve significant improvement with these methods. This lack of effective care is particularly concerning in Ukraine, where the war has intensified psychological distress. Previous Phase III clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy (MAT) showed strong results: 67% of participants who received MDMA no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD, compared with only 32% of those who received a placebo .
Addressing PTSD in Ukraine is both a humanitarian and an economic necessity. Poor mental health contributes to high societal costs through lost productivity, increased healthcare expenses, and strain on social systems. Earlier studies in the United States demonstrated that MAT could provide both health benefits and cost savings, reducing premature deaths and generating substantial quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). However, Ukraine faces unique challenges, including a shortage of trained therapists. To address this, researchers explored the feasibility of delivering MDMA therapy in group settings, a format shown in other contexts to significantly reduce clinician costs while maintaining effectiveness .
Materials and Methods
Overview
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The Potential Economic and Public Health Impact of MDMA‐Assisted Group Therapy for PTSD in Ukraine
https://doi.org/10.1002/wmh3.70039
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Marseille, E., Chernoloz, O., & Orlov, O. (2025). The Potential Economic and Public Health Impact of MDMA‐Assisted Group Therapy for PTSD in Ukraine. World Medical & Health Policy.
Compound Details
The psychedelics given at which dose and how many times
MDMA 180 mg | 3x