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.

Keywords::

• cost–effectiveness
• depression
• economic evaluation
• prevention
• value for money

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.