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The economic analysis of prevention in mental health programs
journal contribution
posted on 2011-04-01, 00:00 authored by Cathy Mihalopoulos, T Vos, J Pirkis, Rob CarterRob CarterThis article introduces the role economics can play in deciding whether programs designed to prevent mental disorders, which carry large disease and economic burdens, are a worthwhile use of limited healthcare resources. Fortunately, preventive interventions for mental disorders exist; however, which interventions should be financed is a common issue facing decision makers, and economic evaluation can provide answers. Unfortunately, existing economic evaluations of preventive interventions have limited applicability to local healthcare contexts. An approach to priority setting largely based on economic techniques— Assessing Cost-Effectiveness (ACE)—has been developed and used in Australia to answer questions regarding the economic credentials of competing interventions. Eleven preventive interventions for mental disorders and suicide, mostly psychological in nature, have been evaluated using this approach, with many meeting the criteria of good value for money. Interventions targeting the prevention of suicide, adult and childhood depression, childhood anxiety, and early psychosis have particular merit.
History
Journal
Annual review of clinical psychologyVolume
7Pagination
169 - 201Publisher
Annual ReviewsLocation
Palo Alto, Calif.ISSN
1548-5943Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2011, Annual ReviewsUsage metrics
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Categories
Keywords
economic evaluationpriority settingmental disorderscost-effectivenessSocial SciencesPsychology, ClinicalPsychologyRANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIALASSESSING COST-EFFECTIVENESSPRIMARY-CARE PATIENTSULTRA-HIGH RISKPOSTNATAL DEPRESSIONANXIETY-DISORDERSFOLLOW-UPSUBTHRESHOLD DEPRESSIONPOSTPARTUM DEPRESSIONEARLY INTERVENTION