title: Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of cognitive therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapy, and fluoxetine (Prozac) in treating depression: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of cognitive therapy (CT), rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), and fluoxetine (Prozac) for major depressive disorder (MDD) were compared in a randomized clinical trial with a Romanian sample of 170 clients. Each intervention was offered for 14 weeks, plus three booster sessions. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores were obtained prior to intervention, 7 and 14 weeks following the start of intervention, and 6 months following completion of intervention. CT, REBT, and fluoxetine did not differ significantly in changes in the BDI, depression-free days (DFDs), or Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs). Average BDI scores decreased from 31.1 before treatment to 9.7 six months following completion of treatment. Due to lower costs, both psychotherapies were more cost-effective, and had better cost-utility, than pharmacotherapy: median $26.44/DFD gained/month for CT and $23.77/DFD gained/month for REBT versus $34.93/DFD gained/month for pharmacotherapy, median $/QALYs=$1,638, $1,734, and $2,287 for CT, REBT, and fluoxetine (Prozac), respectively.
authors.affiliation: Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Florin A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sava
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: Viorel
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lupu
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szentagotai
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: David
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000191:economics; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011617:Psychotherapy, Rational-Emotive / Q000191:economics*; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012383:Romania; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D005473:Fluoxetine