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A cost-utility analysis of psychoanalysis versus psychoanalytic psychotherapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2010

Caspar C. Berghout ,
Jolien Zevalkink  and
Leona Hakkaart-van Roijen
Caspar C. Berghout
Affiliation:
Netherlands Psychoanalytic Institute and VU University
Jolien Zevalkink
Affiliation:
Netherlands Psychoanalytic Institute and Radboud University
Leona Hakkaart-van Roijen
Affiliation:
Erasmus Medical Center
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Abstract

Objectives: Despite the considerable and growing body of research about the clinical effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic treatment, relatively little attention has been paid to economic evaluations, particularly with reference to the broader range of societal effects. In this cost-utility study, we examined the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of psychoanalysis versus psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

Methods: Incremental costs and effects were estimated by means of cross-sectional measurements in a cohort design (psychoanalysis, n = 78; psychoanalytic psychotherapy, n = 104). Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were estimated for each treatment strategy using the SF-6D. Total costs were calculated from a societal perspective (treatment costs plus other societal costs) and discounted at 4 percent.

Results: Psychoanalysis was more costly than psychoanalytic psychotherapy, but also more effective from a health-related quality of life perspective. The ICER—that is, the extra costs to gain one additional QALY by delivering psychoanalysis instead of psychoanalytic psychotherapy—was estimated at €52,384 per QALY gained.

Conclusions: Our findings show that the cost-utility ratio of psychoanalysis relative to psychoanalytic psychotherapy is within an acceptable range. More research is needed to find out whether cost-utility ratios vary with different types of patients. We also encourage cost-utility analyses comparing psychoanalytic treatment to other forms of (long-term) treatment.

Keywords

Cost-utilityPsychoanalysisPsychoanalytic psychotherapyLong-termCost-effectiveness
Type
ASSESSMENTS
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , January 2010 , pp. 3 - 10
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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