Abstract
Background Littleisknown aboutthe
cost-effectiveness of preventingmental
disorders.
Aims To study the cost-effectiveness of
care asusualplusminimal contact
psychotherapyrelative to usual care alone
inpreventingdepressive disorder.
Method An economic evaluationwas
conducted alongside a randomised clinical
trial.Primarycare patientswith subthreshold
depressionwere assignedto
minimal contactpsychotherapyplususual
care (n¼107) or to usual care alone
(n¼109).
Results Primarycarepatientswithsubthreshold
depression benefited from
minimal contactpsychotherapy asit
reducedthe riskofdevelopinga full-blown
depressive disorder from18% to12%.In
addition, this interventionhad a 70%
probabilityof beingmore cost-effective
thanusual care alone.Asensitivityanalysis
indicatedthe robustness of these results.
Conclusions Over1year adjunctive
minimal contactpsychotherapyimproved
outcomes and generatedlower costs.This
interventionis therefore superior to usual
care aloneinterms of cost-effectiveness.
cost-effectiveness of preventingmental
disorders.
Aims To study the cost-effectiveness of
care asusualplusminimal contact
psychotherapyrelative to usual care alone
inpreventingdepressive disorder.
Method An economic evaluationwas
conducted alongside a randomised clinical
trial.Primarycare patientswith subthreshold
depressionwere assignedto
minimal contactpsychotherapyplususual
care (n¼107) or to usual care alone
(n¼109).
Results Primarycarepatientswithsubthreshold
depression benefited from
minimal contactpsychotherapy asit
reducedthe riskofdevelopinga full-blown
depressive disorder from18% to12%.In
addition, this interventionhad a 70%
probabilityof beingmore cost-effective
thanusual care alone.Asensitivityanalysis
indicatedthe robustness of these results.
Conclusions Over1year adjunctive
minimal contactpsychotherapyimproved
outcomes and generatedlower costs.This
interventionis therefore superior to usual
care aloneinterms of cost-effectiveness.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 330-336 |
Journal | British Journal of Psychiatry |
Volume | 188 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |