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Behavioral activation with mindfulness in treating subthreshold depression in primary care: A cost-utility and cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a randomized controlled trial.

Journal of psychiatric research
January 1, 2021
Yuying Sun et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to assess the cost-utility and cost-effectiveness of group-based behavioral activation with mindfulness (BAM) versus care as usual (CAU) for treating subthreshold depression in primary care.

Results Summary

BAM was found to be cost-effective compared to CAU, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of US$5,979 per QALY and a 93% probability of cost-effectiveness. BAM also effectively prevented progression to major depressive disorder, with an ICER of US$1,046 per preventable case and a 99% probability of cost-effectiveness.

Population

Adults aged 18 years or older with subthreshold depression in primary care.

Effective Dosage

Eight 2-hour weekly sessions.

Duration

12 months (including follow-up).

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (4)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
group-based behavioral activation with mindfulness (BAM)
increase
Quality-adjusted Life Years (QALYs)
adults aged 18 years or older with subthreshold depression
US5,979 per QALY
was cost-effective
#1
group-based behavioral activation with mindfulness (BAM)
increase
cost-effectiveness
adults aged 18 years or older with subthreshold depression
0.93 probability
had a probability of 0.93 that BAM was cost-effective
#2
group-based behavioral activation with mindfulness (BAM)
decrease
incidence of major depressive disorder progression
adults aged 18 years or older with subthreshold depression
US$1046 per preventable case
was cost-effective in preventing progression of major depression
#3
group-based behavioral activation with mindfulness (BAM)
increase
cost-effectiveness in preventing progression
adults aged 18 years or older with subthreshold depression
0.99 probability
had a probability of 0.99 to be cost-effective
#4
Abstract

This study aimed to assess the cost-utility and cost-effectiveness of group-based behavioral activation with mindfulness (BAM) versus care as usual (CAU) for treating subthreshold depression in primary care. Adults aged 18 years or older with subthreshold depression were randomized into two arms and were followed up for 12 months. BAM group was provided with eight 2-h weekly treatment by trained allied healthcare workers. CAU group could access to usual medical care but did not receive extra interventions. The health service cost in the past 12 months was self-reported by the participants. Quality-adjusted Life Years (QALYs) and clinical outcome (incidence of major depressive disorder progression) were measured. Willingness-to-pay ratio for cost-utility analysis (CUA) and cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) was US$50,000 per QALY and US$20,000 per prevented major depression case, respectively. These ratios were used in the cost-effective acceptability curve analyses to estimate the probability of cost-effectiveness of the estimated incremental cost effectiveness ratios (ICER) of BAM versus CAU. A total of 115 and 116 participants were included in the BAM group and CAU respectively. The estimated CUA ICER was US5,979 per QALY and had a probability of 0.93 that BAM was cost-effective when compared to CAU. Furthermore, when compared to CAU, BAM was cost-effective in preventing progression of major depression: the estimated CEA ICER was US$1046 per preventable case of major progression with a probability of 0.99 to be cost-effective. Group-based BAM is considered as a cost-effective alternative treatment for treating subthreshold depression by preventing major depressive disorder.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdolescentAdultCost-Benefit AnalysisDepressionDepressive Disorder, MajorHumansMindfulnessPrimary Health CareQuality of LifeQuality-Adjusted Life Years
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations7
Citations/Year1.8
Relative Citation Ratio0.74
NIH Percentile39.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score2.59
Normalized Score0.72
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