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Atomoxetine's effect on societal costs in Sweden
Karl-Johan Myrén1, Gunilla Thernlund, Asa Nylén
1IMS Health Sweden AB.
Journal of Attention Disorders
|April 15, 2009
Summary
Atomoxetine treatment, combined with parental psychoeducation, significantly reduced societal costs for pediatric ADHD patients in Sweden compared to placebo. Medication costs were offset by decreased direct nonmedical and indirect expenses.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Pediatric Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) poses significant societal costs.
- Effective treatment strategies are crucial for managing ADHD and its associated economic burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the societal costs of treating pediatric ADHD patients with atomoxetine versus placebo in Sweden.
- To evaluate the impact of atomoxetine and parental psychoeducation on direct and indirect costs.
Main Methods:
- A 10-week double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 99 pediatric ADHD patients.
- Patients were assigned to either atomoxetine (n=49) or placebo (n=50), with all parents receiving psychoeducation.
- Societal costs were calculated using a resource utilization questionnaire and published unit costs.
Main Results:
- On-treatment societal costs were significantly lower in the atomoxetine group (SEK 4,558) compared to the placebo group (SEK 7,684; p = .007).
- Atomoxetine medication costs were offset by reductions in direct nonmedical and indirect costs.
- Both groups showed numerical reductions in direct and indirect costs during an open-label atomoxetine extension phase.
Conclusions:
- Atomoxetine, in conjunction with parental psychoeducation, offers a preliminary evidence-based approach to reducing nonmedication costs in pediatric ADHD.
- This combined treatment strategy demonstrates potential for economic benefits in managing ADHD in Sweden.
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