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Is Group More Cost Effective than Individual Cognitive Behaviour Therapy? The Evidence is not Solid Yet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Michelle Tucker  and
Tian P. S. Oei
Michelle Tucker
Affiliation:
The University of Queensland, Australia
Tian P. S. Oei
Affiliation:
The University of Queensland, Australia
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Abstract

This paper critically evaluates the empirical evidence of 36 studies regarding the comparative cost-effectiveness of group and individual cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as a whole, and also for specific mental disorders (e.g. depression, anxiety, substance abuse) or populations (e.g. children). Methods of calculating costs, as well as methods of comparing treatment outcomes were appraised and criticized. Overall, the evidence that group CBT is more cost-effective than individual CBT is mixed, with group CBT appearing to be more cost effective in treating depression and children, but less cost effective in treating drugs and alcohol dependence, anxiety and social phobias. In addition, methodological weaknesses in the studies assessed are noted. There is a need to improve cost calculation methodology, as well as more solid and a greater number of empirical cost-effectiveness studies before a firm conclusion can be reached that group CBT is more cost effective then individual CBT.

Keywords

Cost effectivenesscognitive behaviour therapygroup psychotherapyindividual CBTtreatment outcome
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , January 2007 , pp. 77 - 91
Copyright
2006 British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies

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