Projects per year
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Depression alongside multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) in older adults poses a critical public health challenge, worsening physical and mental health and increasing healthcare costs. COVID-19 restrictions further exacerbated these impacts. Behavioural activation (BA) shows promise as a remote intervention for depression during isolation, but its cost-effectiveness for depressed, socially isolated older adults remains uncertain.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the cost-utility of BA versus usual care for older adults with depression and MLTCs during COVID-19 restrictions.
METHODS: A randomised controlled trial recruited and randomised individuals aged 65 and over with depressive symptoms and MLTC (n=435) to either the BA intervention or usual care. Costs were measured from the perspective of the National Health Service and personal social services. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were measured using the EQ-5D-3L at baseline, and 1, 3 and 12 months postrandomisation. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated, with uncertainty addressed through non-parametric bootstrapping. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the primary analysis.
FINDINGS: Primary analysis indicated that BA generated a small cost-saving (£62.34 per older adult; 95% CI: -£120.44 to £239.70) while QALY improvements remained unchanged (0.007; 95% CI -0.036 to 0.022) compared with usual care. The probability of BA being the preferred option is 0.71. Sensitivity analyses supported the primary analysis findings, confirming their robustness.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Compared with usual care, BA demonstrated a slight cost reduction while maintaining QALY improvement. The findings provide promise for BA interventions for older people with depression and MLTCs facing isolation.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e301270 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | BMJ Mental Health |
Volume | 28 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 19 Jan 2025 |
Bibliographical note
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025Keywords
- Humans
- COVID-19/psychology
- Aged
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Male
- Female
- Quality-Adjusted Life Years
- Depression/psychology
- Social Isolation/psychology
- SARS-CoV-2
- Aged, 80 and over
- Behavior Therapy/economics
- Chronic Disease/psychology
- Quality of Life/psychology
Projects
- 1 Finished
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NIHR RCF: The Behavioral Activation for Social IsoLation (BASIL- C19) trial: Mitigating depression and loneliness in response to COVID-C19
Gilbody, S. (Principal investigator)
1/12/20 → 31/03/21
Project: Research project (funded) › Research