Cost-effectiveness of cognitive–behavioral therapy for depression: current evidence and future research priorities

Abstract

Depression is a common psychiatric disorder. Although a variety of antidepressant medications have been shown to be effective, psychological therapies are highly valued by patients and some (such as cognitive–behavioral therapy) may be as clinically effective as antidepressants. Given similar clinical effectiveness, issues of differences in costs between cognitive–behavioral therapy, medication treatments and other approaches to mental healthcare are important. The current article discusses issues relating to the evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of cognitive–behavioral therapy for depression, reviews current empirical evidence concerning cost-effectiveness and highlights key issues for future research.

• cognitive
• behavioral therapy
• cost-effectiveness
• depression
• economic evaluation