Psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant depression in the US: a model-based cost-effectiveness analysis
Translational Psychiatry August 29, 2025 Anton L.v. Avanceña, Linh N. Vuong, James G. Kahn et al. 8 citations
Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) may offer economic value compared to standard care for treatment-resistant depression when its cost is $5000 or less. A simulation model of representative US adults with treatment-resistant depression found that adding PAT to standard care (pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, and esketamine nasal spray) over 12 months yielded an additional 0.031 quality-adjusted life years and $3639 in costs, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $117,517 per QALY gained. At a $150,000 cost-effectiveness threshold, PAT had a 75% probability of being cost-effective. Results were sensitive to PAT's cost: at $10,000 the probability dropped to 1%, at $3000 it rose to 95%.