15 January 2026
Prism Self-Neuromodulation as a Cost-Effective Adjunct PTSD Treatment
The Economic Burden of Chronic PTSD
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Chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a profoundly debilitating condition for individuals, and results in a broad impact on families and a heavy financial burden for society. These costs are not only related directly to health care, but expand to unemployment, disability, homelessness, lost productivity and caregiving, as well as premature death.
According to a 2022 study (Davis LL, Schein J, Cloutier M, et al. J Clin Psychiatry. 2022.:83(3)), the total excess economic burden of PTSD in the US was estimated at $232.2 billion for 2018. Beyond the struggle to maintain employment or relationships, individuals with chronic PTSD have a heightened risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, as well as depression and substance use. Standard of care for PTSD is trauma-focused psychotherapy, while medications, including SSRIs, are also prescribed for managing symptoms.
A recent study, published in Healthcare1, evaluates neurofeedback (NF), and more specifically Prism self-neuromodulation (GrayMatters Health), as an adjunct to standard of care treatments for PTSD, focusing on both clinical outcomes and economic value.
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Study Design
The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of neurofeedback (NF) when used as adjunct therapy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), specifically psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. To achieve this, the researchers employed a decision-analytic cost-effectiveness model that simulated patient outcomes over one- and three-years.
This model incorporated U.S. healthcare data (derived from published Medicare and Veterans Administration (VA) reimbursement rates) to estimate direct treatment costs, effectiveness (derived from CAPS-5 improvement), dropout rates, and improvements in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). By integrating these variables, the analysis provided a comprehensive comparison of NF combined with other therapies (NF + OT) against psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy alone, allowing the authors to assess not only clinical effectiveness but also the economic implications of adopting NF in routine PTSD care.
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The researchers compared four treatment pathways: psychotherapy alone, pharmacotherapy alone, NF combined with other therapies (NF + OT), and Prism self-neuromodulation, an FDA-cleared PTSD treatment that uses NF to guide patients to learn to regulate an amygdala-based biomarker.
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Key Findings: Better Outcomes at Lower Cost
The cost saving findings of this analysis are particularly significant for managing PTSD and associated comorbidities, which often require ongoing medical interventions.
One of the most striking findings of the study was that when Prism was modeled as part of treatment, the economic benefits were amplified. The analysis demonstrated that Prism + OT had cost savings vs. psychotherapy of $6766, $7764, and $8267, aggregated for years 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Additionally, when evaluating Prism + OT vs. pharmacotherapy, it was found that Prism + OT had a cost savings of $6480, $9437, and $12,449 for years 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
Prism NF also delivered measurable improvements in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). QALYs provide a standardized way to measure the length and quality of life gained from treatment interventions, capturing improvements in daily functioning and symptom relief.
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In this analysis NF + OT improved QALYs by 0.04 vs. psychotherapy and 0.24 vs. pharmacotherapy and Prism NF improved QALYs by 0.08 vs. pharmacotherapy. These gains reflected better symptom management, emotional regulation, and reduced comorbidity burden. By incorporating QALYs into the cost-effectiveness model, this study demonstrates that Prism combined with other therapies yields greater patient-centered benefits than psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy alone, making it a more efficient use of healthcare resources.
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The Role of Patient Adherence
One aspect of economic benefit comes from increased efficacy. When patients experience greater symptom reduction, they often require fewer downstream services, make less use of crisis care, and are able to function in daily life. A second, equally important mechanism, is patient adherence, essential for improving patient care and optimizing resources in mental healthcare systems.
Psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy are often associated with high dropout rates. Patients may disengage because talk therapy is emotionally difficult, or stop taking medications because of side effects. Patients who drop out of therapy likely return to their previous condition, which is more expensive to treat than continuing therapy with ongoing improvement.
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A central finding of the study was the marked reduction in dropout rates when neurofeedback was combined with other therapies (NF + OT). Dropout rates were lower with NF + OT (13.2%) compared to psychotherapy (17–24%) and pharmacotherapy (33%).
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In this analysis, the reduction of dropout contributes to improved patient outcomes and measurable cost savings. Prism may keep patients engaged as they learn to regulate the amygdala-based biomarker, it does not require trauma re-exposure (a common issue in psychotherapy) or result in side effects (a major cause of dropout in pharmacotherapy).
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Aligning Clinical Benefit and Economic Value
The findings of this study carry important implications for clinical practice, healthcare systems, and future research. From a clinical perspective, neurofeedback (NF) offers a non-invasive and side-effect-free adjunct that enhances patient retention and treatment outcomes.
For healthcare systems, the integration of NF into PTSD treatment protocols could yield substantial economic benefits. The study demonstrated that NF combined with other therapies not only improves quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) but also reduces direct medical costs, with Prism self-neuromodulation delivering even greater savings.
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This study demonstrates that Prism self-neuromodulation is a cost-effective PTSD treatment that helps improve patient symptoms with high adherence when used as an adjunct to standard treatments. By lowering dropout rates, improving QALYs, and reducing costs, this modality represents a promising innovation to expand access to effective mental health care.