Toward the incorporation of costs, cost-effectiveness analysis, and cost-benefit analysis into clinical research

Most research in clinical psychology and related disciplines does not measure, report, or analyze costs, cost-effectiveness, or cost-benefit analysis. Reasons for this are discussed. It may be thought, for example, that costs are trivial to measure. Data are presented to show that the values of resources consumed in treatment (i.e., costs) actually can be quite complex to assess accurately and completely. Research findings are assembled to show that costs, as experienced by clients, may be beneficial to assess in that they can be significantly related to the outcomes of treatment. Empirical findings also show that costs also can be useful to measure because costs and outcomes can be related inversely rather than directly (i.e., clients may benefit most from treatments that cost less than several viable alternatives). Finally, perceived impediments to assessing costs and to cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis in psychology are considered. Dialogue is encouraged on the scientific study of relationships between (a) monetary and other costs, (b) treatment techniques and treatment delivery systems, and (c) psychological and economic outcomes.