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Cost-effectiveness of early intervention in psychosis: Systematic review

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Matthew Prina

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Abstract

© The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2019. Background Early intervention in psychosis (EIP) has been developed as an approach to improve the prognosis of people with psychotic disorders and it has been claimed to be a more efficient model of care. However, the evidence is not definitive and doubts have spread regard to the economic outcomes of EIP services amid the usually restricted mental health budget. Aims: We aimed to review the cost-effectiveness evidence of EIP services worldwide. Method: We systematically reviewed the economic literature about EIP following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses statement guidelines. Studies were selected according to previously stated criteria and analysed with standardised critical appraisal tools for trial-based economic evaluations and modelling studies. Results: A total of 16 studies were selected after applying the eligibility criteria. Most of them were economic evaluations alongside clinical trials. The overall evidence was consistent in the cost-effectiveness of EIP compared with standard care for first episode of psychosis and the Clinical High Risk for Psychosis paradigm. Such evidence was replicated among different health systems, but mainly in high-income countries. The methodological quality of such evidence, however, was moderate and heterogeneity was significant across the studies. Conclusions: There is consistent evidence that the implementation of EIP services might be a cost-effective alternative across different health systems. Such evidence, nevertheless, derives from heterogeneous and sometimes methodologically flawed studies, reducing the certainty of such statement. More efforts must be done to rigorously assess the value of this intervention, before expanding it among systems where mental health budgets are more constrained. Declaration of interest: None.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Aceituno D, Vera N, Prina AM, McCrone P

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: British Journal of Psychiatry

Year: 2019

Volume: 215

Issue: 1

Pages: 388-394

Print publication date: 01/07/2019

Online publication date: 30/01/2019

Acceptance date: 17/11/2018

ISSN (print): 0007-1250

ISSN (electronic): 1472-1465

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

URL: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2018.298

DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2018.298

PubMed id: 30696495


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