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Cost-Effectiveness of Interventions for Anxiety and Depressive Disorders

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Mental Health Economics

Abstract

Depression and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent diagnoses associated with significant morbidity and economic burden to healthcare systems and society. It is important to consider the costs and outcomes of the various pharmacologic and psychologic therapies available for the treatment and prevention of these diagnoses in order to provide services in the most efficient way. This chapter reviews the numerous economic evaluations previously undertaken to evaluate medications and the psychological (both in-person and Internet-based) and combination therapies used as treatments for diagnosed depression and anxiety. It also reviews the growing literature on interventions for the prevention of these conditions. A discussion of methodologic concerns is included to provide guidance for interpreting the existing evidence and as a basis for the design of future evaluations.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Economic evaluations of combination therapies (psychological plus pharmacological) are discussed further below.

  2. 2.

    “Indicated prevention” refers to preventive interventions targeting people with some symptoms of a mental disorder but who do not yet meet all criteria. This definition is contrasted with universal preventive interventions, which target entire populations, and selective interventions, which target “at-risk” populations [45].

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  1. Deakin Health Economics, Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Cathrine Mihalopoulos & Mary Lou Chatterton

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  1. Cathrine Mihalopoulos
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  2. Mary Lou Chatterton
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Correspondence to Cathrine Mihalopoulos .

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  1. Centre of Economic Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Denise Razzouk

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Mihalopoulos, C., Chatterton, M.L. (2017). Cost-Effectiveness of Interventions for Anxiety and Depressive Disorders. In: Razzouk, D. (eds) Mental Health Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55266-8_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55266-8_18

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