Cited by 144Digital Mental Health InterventionsHealth Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of LifeMental Health Treatment and Access

Economic evaluations of internet- and mobile-based interventions for the treatment and prevention of depression: A systematic review

Paganini, Sarah, Teigelkötter, Wiebke, Buntrock, Claudia, Baumeister, Harald·2018·Journal of Affective Disorders

Abstract

Background Internet- and mobile-based interventions (IMIs) targeting depression have been shown to be clinically effective and are considered a cost-effective complement to established interventions. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the evidence for the cost-effectiveness of IMIs for the treatment and prevention of depression.Methods A systematic database search was conducted (Medline, PsychInfo, CENTRAL, PSYNDEX, OHE HEED). Relevant articles were selected according to defined eligibility criteria. IMIs were classified as cost-effective if they were below a willingness-to-pay threshold (WTP) of €22,845 (£20,000) - €34,267 (£30,000) per additional quality-adjusted life year (QALY) according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) standard. Study quality was assessed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standard guidelines and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.Results Of 1538 studies, seven economic evaluations of IMIs for the treatment of major depression, four for the treatment of subthreshold/minor depression and one for the prevention of depression. In six studies, IMIs were classified as likely to be cost-effective with an incremental cost-utility ratio between €3088 and €22,609. All of these IMIs were guided. Overall quality of most economic evaluations was evaluated as good. All studies showed some risk of bias.Limitations The studies used different methodologies and showed some risk of bias. These aspects as well as the classification of cost-effectiveness according to the WTP proposed by NICE should be considered when interpreting the results.Conclusions Results indicate that guided IMIs for the treatment of (subthreshold) depression have the potential to be a cost-effective complement to established interventions, but more methodologically sound studies are needed.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jad.2017.07.018

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Authors
Paganini, S., Teigelkötter, W., Buntrock, C., & Baumeister, H.
Affiliations
  • University of Freiburg (DE)
  • Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
  • Universität Ulm (DE)
Corresponding author
Paganini, Sarah
Venue
Journal of Affective Disorders
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-01
Volume
225
Pages
733-755
ISSN
0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2735986931
Cited by
144
References
113
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 1
FWCI
1.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (01GY1330A)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
online intervention, mobile-based interventions, depression treatment, depression prevention, cost-effectiveness, major depressive disorder, subthreshold depression, minor depression, guided intervention, quality-adjusted life years, willingness-to-pay threshold, risk of bias
MeSH terms
Cost-Benefit Analysis, Depression, Major Depressive Disorder, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Treatment Outcome, Quality-Adjusted Life Years, Internet

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