Abstract
Background: Patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) suffer very significant morbidity and are at a disadvantage concerning optimal clinical management. There are high associated societal costs. Aims: A detailed analysis of health economic costs in the United Kingdom in a group manifesting a severe form of TRD in the 12 months before their participation in a major randomized controlled treatment trial. Methods: The sample consisted of 118 participants from the Tavistock Adult Depression Study. Recruitment was from primary care on the basis of current major depression disorder of at least 2 years’ duration and two failed treatment attempts. Service utilization was assessed based on self-report and general practitioner (GP) medical records. Generalized linear models were used to identify predictors of cost. Results: All participants used GP services. Use of other doctors and practice nurses was also high. The mean total societal cost was £22 124, 80% of which was due to lost work and care required of families. Level of general functioning was found to be the most consistent predictor of costs. Conclusions: Severe forms of TRD are associated with high costs in which unpaid care and lost work predominate. Treatments that improve functioning may reduce the large degree of burden.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 567-573 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Mental Health |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Early online date | 23 Dec 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 23 Dec 2017 |
Keywords
- burden
- cost economic analysis
- Treatment-resistant depression