title: A comparison of the cost-effectiveness of sertraline versus tricyclic antidepressants in primary care.
abstract: There has been considerable debate concerning the cost-effectiveness of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) versus tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) thus far using crude prescription price comparisons or reductionist decision-analytic models. This paper employs a retrospective quasi-experimental design where data on service utilisation, use of medication and informal care were collected for two groups of patients in general practice settings. The mean cost of treatment was marginally greater for those people receiving TCA medication due to greater use of psychiatric services. Factors such as age, previous depression and concomitant physical illness are all associated with greater treatment costs. Further analysis using a prospective design is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU), London School of Economics, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forder
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fenyo
mesh_terms: D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline