The economics of psychedelic-assisted therapies: A research agenda

Psychiatry is seeing renewed interest in using psychedelic drugs to treat mental health disorders like depression, PTSD, and addictions, with clinical evidence showing substantial potential. New therapies could become available by 2024 for patients who do not respond to traditional treatments. However, research on economic factors such as costs, cost-effectiveness, pricing, and the economic effects of widespread implementation has lagged. These issues are critical for making psychedelic therapies widely accessible. The authors describe six types of economic analyses relevant to decisions and planning, including the needs of healthcare payers, and outline desirable features of such research, including scientific rigor, long-term horizons, equity, and a global perspective.

Study at a glance

Abstract

After a long hiatus, psychiatry is undergoing a resurgence of interest in psychedelic drugs as therapy for a wide range of mental health disorders Accumulating clinical evidence suggests substantial potential for psychedelics used in a therapeutic context, as treatment for, among other disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addictions to tobacco, opioids and alcohol. As soon as 2024, powerful new therapeutic modalities could become available for individuals with mental health problems refractory to traditional therapies. Yet research has lagged on economic considerations, such as costs and cost-effectiveness, the economic effects of widespread implementation, pricing, and economic appraisal's methodological considerations relevant to psychedelic therapies. These issues are critical if psychedelic therapies are to become widely accessible. We describe six types of economic analyses and their rationale for decisions and planning including the needs of health care payers. We also outline desirable features of this research, including scientific rigor, long horizons, equity, and a global view.