The importance of considering non-monetary costs and benefits in selecting pharmacologic interventions in mental health

Abstract

The continuing increase in health care costs has focused more attention on the value associated with a therapeutic intervention in addition to its clinical efficacy and safety. Although safety and efficacy are important, the effectiveness of an intervention in practice is the yardstick for assessing a therapy's societal benefit. In measuring effectiveness outcomes, all the relevant costs and benefits must be considered, including those that extend beyond the direct costs of care. Patient quality of life and, related to it, work productivity are two additional outcomes worthy of consideration. This article presents a discussion of several economic approaches to measuring indirect costs, the relationship between indirect costs and quality of life, and the relevance of such evaluations in the area of mental health, and offers recommendations for researchers.