Model to Assess the Cost-Effectiveness of New Treatments for Depression
2006
This article, published in the International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, describes a Markov model to compare the cost-effectiveness of a hypothetical new treatment for depression with standard care. Data on costs, quality of life and transition probabilities are derived from the observational Health Economic Aspects of Depression in Sweden (HEADIS) study. Data on long-term consequences of depression and mortality risks are obtained from the published literature. The analyses are conducted from the societal perspective and over a 6 month to 5-year time frame.
The study findings indicate that, compared with standard care, the new hypothetical therapy is predicted to substantially decrease costs and is also associated with gains in QALYs. With an improved treatment effect of 50 percent on achieving full remission, the net cost savings are 20,000 Swedish kronor over a 5-year follow-up period, given equal costs of treatments. Patients gained 0.073 QALYs over 5-years.
Based on these findings the authors conclude that new treatments for depression, which have a relatively better effect, easily can produce cost savings for society compared with standard care for depression.
Model to Assess the Cost-Effectiveness of New Treatments for Depression
Source:
Sobocki P, Ekman M, Agren H et al. Model to Assess the Cost-Effectiveness of New Treatments for Depression. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care 2006; 22 (4): 469-477. http://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462306051397