Designing an Incentive-Based Rehabilitation Model for PTSD: Economic Evaluation, ROI, and Decade Forecast Model (2026–2035)

This research develops a multidimensional econometric and policy-oriented framework for analyzing the long-term economic, institutional, and societal consequences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among combat veterans. The study integrates behavioral economics, labor productivity modeling, healthcare expenditure analysis, rehabilitation theory, and public policy evaluation in order to examine the structural burden imposed by chronic combat-related trauma on modern economies. Drawing upon contemporary PTSD literature, veteran rehabilitation paradigms, and macroeconomic forecasting methodologies, the research proposes an incentive-based rehabilitation model designed to enhance workforce reintegration, reduce long-term dependency, and improve national productivity outcomes. The framework further evaluates the indirect fiscal implications associated with untreated or under-treated PTSD, including labor market withdrawal, reduced human capital utilization, increased public healthcare costs, and long-term social welfare dependency. The study advances the argument that PTSD among veterans should not be examined solely as a clinical or psychological condition, but rather as a strategic socioeconomic variable with measurable implications for economic growth, public expenditure efficiency, and national resilience. Through an interdisciplinary analytical approach, this work seeks to contribute to the emerging academic discourse surrounding trauma economics, veteran policy reform, and sustainable rehabilitation systems in post-conflict societies.