Abstract
Background: International evidence on the cost and effects of interventions for reducing the global burden of depression remain scarce.
Aims: To estimate the population-level cost-effectiveness of evidence-based depression interventions and their contribution towards reducing current burden.
Method: Primary-care-based depression interventions were modelled at the level of whole populations in 14 epidemiological subregions of the world. Total population-level costs (in international dollars or I) and effectiveness (disability adjusted life years (DALYs) averted) were combined to form average and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios.
Results: Evaluated interventions have the potential to reduce the current burden of depression by 10–30%. Pharmacotherapy with older antidepressant drugs, with or without proactive collaborative care, are currently more cost-effective strategies than those using newer antidepressants, particularly in lower-income subregions.
Conclusions: Even in resource-poor regions, each DALYaverted by efficient depression treatments in primary care costs less than 1 year of average per capita income, making such interventions a cost-effective use of health resources. However, current levels of burden can only be reduced significantly if there is a substantial increase in treatment coverage.
Aims: To estimate the population-level cost-effectiveness of evidence-based depression interventions and their contribution towards reducing current burden.
Method: Primary-care-based depression interventions were modelled at the level of whole populations in 14 epidemiological subregions of the world. Total population-level costs (in international dollars or I) and effectiveness (disability adjusted life years (DALYs) averted) were combined to form average and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios.
Results: Evaluated interventions have the potential to reduce the current burden of depression by 10–30%. Pharmacotherapy with older antidepressant drugs, with or without proactive collaborative care, are currently more cost-effective strategies than those using newer antidepressants, particularly in lower-income subregions.
Conclusions: Even in resource-poor regions, each DALYaverted by efficient depression treatments in primary care costs less than 1 year of average per capita income, making such interventions a cost-effective use of health resources. However, current levels of burden can only be reduced significantly if there is a substantial increase in treatment coverage.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 393-403 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | British Journal of Psychiatry |
| Volume | 184 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2004 |