Cost-effectiveness of cognitive self-therapy in patients with depression and anxiety disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Self-therapy interventions could potentially reduce healthcare expenses and the need for care in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of cognitive self-therapy (CST) in patients with these disorders.


METHODS
A total of 151 patients were randomly assigned to CST or treatment as usual (TAU), and followed during 18 months. The Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) was the primary outcome measure of the study. The reference year was 2003 (US$1.00 = euro 0.92).


RESULTS
Mean costs of patients in the CST group (US$4364) were lower than that of the patients who received TAU (US$5241). The results of the SCL-90 were slightly in favour of CST. Valuing an additional unit of health outcome at US$108 will lead to an 83% probability that CST is cost-effective.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive self-therapy appears to be cost-effective. Wider implementation of CST may relieve the burden of many patients with emotional disorders whose treatment needs cannot be met in current healthcare systems.
Stant
A D
AD
Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. a.d.stant@epi.umcg.nl
Ten Vergert
E M
EM
den Boer
P C A M
PC
Wiersma
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003863:Depression / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care