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. 2023 May 16:37:100786.
doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100786. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Mortality and mental health funding-do the dollars add up? Eating disorder research funding in Australia from 2009 to 2021: a portfolio analysis

E Bryant  1 , N Koemel  2 , J A Martenstyn  1   3 , P Marks  1 , I Hickie  4 , S Maguire  1
Affiliations

Mortality and mental health funding-do the dollars add up? Eating disorder research funding in Australia from 2009 to 2021: a portfolio analysis

E Bryant et al. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. .

Abstract

Background: Eating Disorders (EDs) are among the deadliest of the mental disorders and carry a sizeable public health burden, however their research and treatment is consistently underfunded, contributing to protracted illness and ongoing paucity of treatment innovation.

Methods: We compare absolute levels and growth rates of Australian mental health research funding by illness group for the years 2009-2021, with a specific focus on eating disorders analysed at the portfolio level.

Findings: Actual and adjusted data obtained from Australia's three national medical research funding bodies (NHMRC, ARC and MRFF) shows eating disorders receive a disproportionately low allocation of mental health research funding despite having amongst the highest mortality rates. Forty-one category one research grants totalling $AUD28.1 million were funded for eating disorders over the period. When adjusted for inflation, this equates to $2.05 per affected individual, compared with $19.56 for depression, $32.11 for autism, and $176.19 for schizophrenia. Half of all research funded for eating disorders was 'basic' research (e.g., illness underpinning), with little investment in the development of innovative treatment models, novel therapeutics or translation, well reflected by recovery rates of less than 50% in individuals with Anorexia Nervosa.

Interpretation: Significant discrepancy remains between research funding dollars and disease burden associated with the mental health disorders. The extent to which eating disorders are underfunded may in part be attributable to inaccuracies in epidemiological and burden of disease data.

Funding: This work was in-part funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and the National Eating Disorder Research & Translation Strategy. The funder was not directly involved in informing the development of the current study.

Keywords: Anorexia nervosa; Binge eating disorder; Bulimia nervosa; Disease burden; Eating disorders; Economic analysis; Financial; Health economics; Health policy; Medical research funding; Mental health; Mental health funding; Portfolio analysis; Research funding.

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Conflict of interest statement

All work for this study was supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and the Translation of Eating Disorder Evidence into Clinical Practice 4-G5CD4SY grant. IH is supported by NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence grants (APP1171910 and APP1061043) and an Australian Government funded Project Synergy grant. He is on the Janssen Cilag advisory board and presents and chairs their online webinars and educational events; the MRFF Australian Medical Research Advisory Board; an unpaid member of the board of Psychosis Australia Trust; Member of the Clinical Advisory Group for the evaluation of the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and GeneralPractitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) initiative (Dept of Health). IH is Chief Scientific Advisor and an equity shareholder in Innowell PTY LTD. NK is supported by a University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health Executive Dean Stipend Scholarship and has received travel funding support from the University of Sydney and the Nutrition Society of Australia. He is on the advisory and awards committees for the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Council on Research.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overview of disability-adjusted life year estimation process, Australian Burden of Disease Study 2018 (AIHW, 2022).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
NHMRC (incl. MRFF) and ARC funding per year, by mental disorder, 2009–2021, adjusted for inflation (2021 equivalent, Australian dollars (AUD)).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Awarded grants by Top 10 research priority area 2009–2021 (%).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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