The health economic impact of antidepressant usage from a payer's perspective: a multinational study

A multinational decision analytic model was developed to examine the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in 10 European and American countries. Input to the model was obtained from a meta-analysis of current clinical trial data obtained from the published literature, and local clinical and health economic experts in each market. The patient- and policy-level impact of MDD treatment was measured in each of the 10 markets. The total expected cost per patient for treating MDD with venlafaxine XR during the six-month acute phase of MDD was the lowest expected cost in nine of the 10 countries studied, resulting in savings to the primary payer in almost all markets. As well as the cost savings, the higher efficacy and lower rate of dropout found for venlafaxine XR translate to a greater number of symptom-free-days (SFDs) per patient. The results of this investigation show that use of venlafaxine XR in most settings across Europe and the Americas will have a favourable impact on healthcare payer budgets and the overall mental health of MDD patients.