title: Healthcare costs of paternal depression in the postnatal period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is growing evidence that fathers experience depressive symptoms following the birth of a child. The aim of this study was to estimate the healthcare costs of paternal postnatal depression, thereby informing research into cost-effective preventative and treatment interventions for the condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on healthcare resource-use over the first 12 months postpartum was collected from 192 fathers recruited from two postnatal wards in southern England. Three groups of fathers were identified: fathers with depression (n=31), fathers at high risk of developing depression (n=67) and fathers without depression (n=94).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean father-child dyad costs were estimated at £ 1103.51, £ 1075.06 and £ 945.03 (£ sterling, 2008 prices) in these three groups, respectively (P=0.796). After controlling for potentially confounding factors, paternal depression was associated with significantly higher community care costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides useful preliminary insights into the healthcare costs associated with paternal depression during the postnatal period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The small sample size may, in part, account for the failure to detect statistically significant differences in mean costs between study groups for most cost categories.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics, Alcuin block A, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom. ipe501@york.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ijeoma P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Edoka
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrou
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Ramchandani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D003863:Depression / Q000191:economics*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000191:economics; D004739:England; D005190:Family; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics; D036801:Parturition; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000191:economics; D012306:Risk