A cost effectiveness analysis of stepped care treatment for bulimia nervosa. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: The cost effectiveness of various treatment strategies for bulimia nervosa (BN) is unknown. AIMS: To examine the cost effectiveness of stepped care treatment for BN. METHOD: Randomized trial conducted at four clinical centers with intensive measurement of direct medical costs and repeated measurement of subject quality of life and family/significant other time involvement. Two hundred ninety-three women who met DSM-IV criteria for BN received stepped care treatment or cognitive behavioral therapy. Cost effectiveness ratios were compared. RESULTS: The cost per abstinent subject was $12,146 for stepped care, and $20,317 for cognitive behavioral therapy. Quality of life ratings improved significantly with treatment, and family/significant other time burden diminished substantially. DISCUSSION: In this trial, stepped care for BN appeared cost effective in comparison to cognitive behavioral therapy. Treatment was associated with improved quality of life and diminished time costs of illness.

publication date

  • January 28, 2013

Research

keywords

  • Bulimia Nervosa
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Fluoxetine
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC3796856

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84876048694

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/eat.22087

PubMed ID

  • 23354913

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 46

issue

  • 4