title: [Cost-effectiveness of anxiolytics in anxiety disorders].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  adequate treatment of anxiety disorders reduces the economic impact, improves functionality in daily life activities and quality of life. Pharmacologic treatment depends on patient's characteristics and doctor's experience. The aim of this study was to determine the use of resources in anxiety disorder and to analyze its cost-effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  use of resources related to chronic treatment of anxiety disorders and cost-effectiveness of drugs were determined, as well as patients' out-of-pocket expenses and productivity loss. A one-year time horizon and decision tree with benzodiazepines, selective inhibitor of serotonin re-intake (SISR) and tricyclic antidepressant drugs were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  benzodiazepines were the treatment that had the lowest total cost ($147,587 MXP), followed by SISR (incremental cost of $2,182 MXP), and the highest cost was tricyclic antidepressant drugs ($155,903 MXP).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  benzodiazepines are good alternative for anxiety disorder because of their high effectiveness to control symptoms and because they reduce hospital costs.
authors.affiliation: Coordinación de Investigación en Salud, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Distrito Federal, México.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Constantino-Casas
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: León-González
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nevárez-Sida
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valencia-Huarte
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García-Contreras
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents