title: Prospective economic evaluation of a peer support intervention for prevention of postpartum depression among high-risk women in Ontario, Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A previous multisite, randomized, controlled trial of peer support compared with usual care for prevention of postpartum depression demonstrated a reduction in depression symptoms at 12 weeks postbirth. Our objective was to determine the cost-effectiveness of this intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospectively planned economic evaluation alongside the clinical trial to determine the cost per case of postpartum depression averted, using individual patient data (n = 610) and societal perspective. All costs were expressed in 2011 Canadian dollars.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean cost per woman was $4,497 in the peer support group and $3,380 in the usual care group (difference of $1,117, p < 0.0001). There was a 95% probability that the program would cost less than $20,196 per case of postpartum depression averted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this is a volunteer-based program, it results in a net cost to the health care system and society. However, this cost is within the range for other accepted interventions for this population.
authors.affiliation: Division of Newborn Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dukhovny
authors.forename: Cindy-Lee
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hodnett
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weston
authors.forename: Donna E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Wenyang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: John A F
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zupancic
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010379:Peer Group; D011247:Pregnancy; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014838:Volunteers