Group psychedelic therapy: empirical estimates of cost-savings and improved access
Analysing 2023 data from MDMA-assisted PTSD and psilocybin-assisted MDD trials, the authors show that group therapy markedly reduces clinician time and costs while expanding potential patient access. Group protocols cut clinician costs by 50.9% for MDMA‑PTSD (≈$3,467 per patient) and 34.7% for psilocybin‑MDD (≈$981), potentially freeing 6,711 and 1,159 FTE clinicians respectively and saving up to $10.3 billion and $2.0 billion in the US over 10 years (3% annual discount).
Authors
- Michael Mithoefer
- Manish Agrawal
- Elliot Marseille
Published
Abstract
Objective
To compare group and individual psychedelic-assisted therapy in terms of clinician time, costs and patient access.
Methods
Using 2023 data from two group therapy trial sites, one using 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and one using psilocybin to treat major depressive disorder (MDD), we compared overall variable costs, clinician costs and clinician time required by therapy protocols utilizing groups versus individual patient therapy. Using published literature, we estimated the prevalence of adults with PTSD and MDD eligible for treatment with psychedelic therapy and projected the savings in time and cost required to treat these prevalent cases.
Results
Group therapy saved 50.9% of clinician costs for MDMA-PTSD and 34.7% for psilocybin-MDD, or $3,467 and $981 per patient, respectively. To treat all eligible PTSD and MDD patients in the U.S. in 10 years with group therapy, 6,711 fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) clinicians for MDMA-PTSD and 1,159 fewer for FTE clinicians for psilocybin-MDD would be needed, saving up to $10.3 billion and $2.0 billion respectively, discounted at 3% annually.
Conclusion
Adopting group therapy protocols where feasible would significantly reduce the cost of psychedelic-assisted therapies. By enhancing the number of patients served per clinician, group therapy could also ameliorate the anticipated shortage of appropriately trained clinicians, thereby accelerating access to these promising new therapies.
Research Summary of 'Group psychedelic therapy: empirical estimates of cost-savings and improved access'
Introduction
Clinical trials and renewed public interest have driven a resurgence in research on psychedelic-assisted therapies for disorders that are often difficult to treat. Marseille and colleagues note that regulators have given Breakthrough Therapy designations to MDMA for PTSD and to psilocybin for major depressive disorder, and that expanded access programmes and local policy changes have further increased momentum. At the same time, the authors identify practical barriers to broad and equitable access—most notably the potential high costs of treatment, uncertain payer willingness, workforce shortages of clinicians trained to deliver psychedelic therapies, and barriers for underserved populations. This study aims to quantify one proposed service-delivery response: incorporating group sessions into psychedelic therapy protocols. Using empirical data from two contemporary trial sites that already include group-based elements, the investigators estimate clinician time, clinician compensation, and overall variable costs per patient for group versus individual session formats. They then project how adopting group modalities could affect clinician workforce requirements and the time or cost needed to treat the population of U.S. adults estimated to be eligible for MDMA or psilocybin therapy.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Compounds
- Topics
- Authors
- APA Citation
Marseille, E., Stauffer, C. S., Agrawal, M., Thambi, P., Roddy, K., Mithoefer, M., Bertozzi, S. M., & Kahn, J. G. (2023). Group psychedelic therapy: empirical estimates of cost-savings and improved access. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1293243
References (13)
Papers cited by this study that are also in Blossom
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Trope, A., Anderson, B. T., Hooker, A. R. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2019)
Oehen, P., Gasser, P. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022)
Show all 13 referencesShow fewer
Anderson, B. T., Danforth, A. L., Daroff, R. et al. · EClinicalMedicine (2020)
Avancena, A. L. V., Kahn, J. G., Marseille, E. · Clinical Drug Investigation (2022)
Marseille, E., Mitchell, M. J., Khan, J. G. · PLOS ONE (2022)
Cited By (5)
Papers in Blossom that reference this study
Jacobs, E., Zahid, Z., Hinkle, J. et al. · BMJ (2026)
Avancena, A. L. V., Vuong, L., Kahn, J. G. et al. · Translational Psychiatry (2025)
Marseille, E., Chernoloz, O., Orlov, |. O. · World Medical & Health Policy (2025)
Lewis, B. R., Hendrick, J., Byrne, K. et al. · PLOS Medicine (2025)
Dougherty, R. F., Clarke, P., Kuc, J. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2023)
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