Cost-effectiveness of relapse-prevention cognitive therapy for bipolar disorder: 30-month study.
BACKGROUND
We have reported the advantageous clinical outcome of adding cognitive therapy to medication in the prevention of relapse of bipolar disorder.


OBJECTIVE
This 30-month study compares the cost-effectiveness of cognitive therapy with standard care.


METHODS
We randomly allocated 103 individuals with bipolar 1 disorder to standard treatment and cognitive therapy plus standard treatment. Service use and costs were measured at 3-month intervals and cost-effectiveness was assessed using the net-benefit approach.


RESULTS
The group receiving cognitive therapy had significantly better clinical outcomes. The extra costs were offset by reduced service use elsewhere. The probability of cognitive therapy being cost-effective was high and robust to different therapy prices.


CONCLUSIONS
Combination of cognitive therapy and mood stabilizers was superior to mood stabilizers alone in terms of clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness for those with frequent relapses of bipolar disorder.
Lam
Dominic H
DH
Psychology Department, Institute of Psychiatry, DeCrespigny Park, London SE5 8AF. D.Lam@iop.kcl.ac.uk
McCrone
Paul
P
Wright
Kim
K
Kerr
Natalie
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000191:economics*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D055502:Secondary Prevention
D000928:Antidepressive Agents