Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of cognitive therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapy, and fluoxetine (prozac) in treating depression: a randomized clinical trial

✍ Scribed by Florin A. Sava; Brian T. Yates; Viorel Lupu; Aurora Szentagotai; Daniel David

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 172 KB
• Volume: 65
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9762
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.20550

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Cost‐effectiveness and cost‐utility of cognitive therapy (CT), rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), and fluoxetine (Prozac) for major depressive disorder (MDD) were compared in a randomized clinical trial with a Romanian sample of 170 clients. Each intervention was offered for 14 weeks, plus three booster sessions. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores were obtained prior to intervention, 7 and 14 weeks following the start of intervention, and 6 months following completion of intervention. CT, REBT, and fluoxetine did not differ significantly in changes in the BDI, depression‐free days (DFDs), or Quality‐Adjusted Life Years (QALYs). Average BDI scores decreased from 31.1 before treatment to 9.7 six months following completion of treatment. Due to lower costs, both psychotherapies were more cost‐effective, and had better cost‐utility, than pharmacotherapy: median $26.44/DFD gained/month for CT and $23.77/DFD gained/month for REBT versus $34.93/DFD gained/month for pharmacotherapy, median $/QALYs=$1,638, $1,734, and $2,287 for CT, REBT, and fluoxetine (Prozac), respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65:1–17, 2009.