title: Cost-effectiveness of preventive interventions for depressive disorders: an overview.
abstract: The last 7 years have seen a growing number of cost-effectiveness studies demonstrating that screening people for signs of depression and the subsequent provision of psychological therapy to prevent the onset of depressive disorder is a cost-effective intervention. Many of the studies have expressed outcomes generically, either as quality-adjusted life-years or disability-adjusted life-years, and reported results well below conventional thresholds of 'value for money.' However, such interventions are still not routinely delivered in many healthcare systems, suggesting a 'translational' gap between evidence and practice. Future research needs to better integrate comprehensive economic evaluation indices into study designs, such as broad assessment of costs and impacts, including non-health impacts, to gain an accurate insight into the broader economic benefits of such interventions. Furthermore, a focus on interventions aimed at children and adolescents, which can demonstrate impact into adulthood, are likely to be highly favourable, both clinically and economically.
authors.affiliation: Deakin Health Economics, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia. cathy.mihalopoulos@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Cathrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mihalopoulos
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012107:Research Design