Cost-effectiveness analysis of a communication-focused therapy for pre-school children with autism: results from a randomised controlled trial.
BMC Psychiatry
; 15: 316, 2015 Dec 21.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26691535
BACKGROUND: Autism is associated with impairments that have life-time consequences for diagnosed individuals and a substantial impact on families. There is growing interest in early interventions for children with autism, yet despite the substantial economic burden, there is little evidence of the cost-effectiveness of such interventions with which to support resource allocation decisions. This study reports an economic evaluation of a parent-mediated, communication-focused therapy carried out within the Pre-School Autism Communication Trial (PACT). METHODS: 152 pre-school children with autism were randomly assigned to treatment as usual (TAU) or PACT + TAU. Primary outcome was severity of autism symptoms at 13-month follow-up. Economic data included health, education and social services, childcare, parental productivity losses and informal care. RESULTS: Clinically meaningful symptom improvement was evident for 53 % of PACT + TAU versus 41 % of TAU (odds ratio 1.91, p = 0.074). Service costs were significantly higher for PACT + TAU (mean difference £4,489, p < 0.001), but the difference in societal costs was smaller and non-significant (mean difference £1,385, p = 0.788) due to lower informal care rates for PACT + TAU. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in outcome generated by PACT come at a cost. Although this cost is lower when burden on parents is included, the cost and effectiveness results presented do not support the cost-effectiveness of PACT + TAU compared to TAU alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN58133827.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Psicoterapia
/
Trastorno Autístico
/
Comunicación
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
/
Health_economic_evaluation
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMC Psychiatry
Asunto de la revista:
PSIQUIATRIA
Año:
2015
Tipo del documento:
Article