Effectivity and Cost-effectivity of the Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy: A mirror naturalistic analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy (mECT) is a biological long-term treatment in which patients receive ECT on periods from 2 to 4 weeks, during a variable period of time, usually for more than 6 months. Recent studies showed the efficacy of mECT in prevention of relapse and recurrences. Our study wants to demostrate the effectivity and cost-effectivity of this therapy in the naturalistic conditions of our area. DESIGN: Retrospective longitudinal study, with mirror analysis in naturalistic conditions. SUBJECTS: Patients attended at the Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí (Sabadell, Catalonia), and included in the mECT program during more than six months. We performed diagnostic following DSM-IV criteria, subdividing the sample in three groups: patients affected of Recurrent Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia and Related Disorders. MEASURES: Number and duration of hospitalizations for the previous three years before the beginning of mECT, compared with the same data for the next three years following the beginning of mECT. Comparative analysis of direct hospitalization costs, costs of the mECT and pharmacologic costs. Statistic: Descriptive and non- parametric tests. RESULTS: Sample of 35 patients (1997-2008). There is a significative reduction the number of hospitalizations and days of hospitalization in the total sample and also in each of the three subgroups. The direct total cost decreased but it was only significant in the Bipolar Disorder subgroup, due to the increased pharmacological costs. CONCLUSIONS: mECT in our area is an effective and costeffective treatment with a great impact on the reduction of clinical decline and hospitalizations.

Efectividad y Coste-Efectividad de la Terapia Electroconvulsiva de Mantenimiento: un análisis naturalístico en espejo / Effectivity and Cost-effectivity of the Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy: A mirror naturalistic analysis

Introducción. La Terapia Electroconvulsiva de Mantenimiento (TECm) es un régimen de tratamiento biológico a largo plazo en el cual los pacientes reciben TEC en intervalos habitualmente de 2 a 4 semanas y a lo largo de un período variable según los casos y normalmente de más de seis meses. Estudios recientes han demostrado la eficacia de TECm en la prevención de recaídas y recurrencias. Nuestro estudio pretende averiguar su efectividad y coste-efectividad en nuestro medio. Metodología. Diseño: Estudio retrospectivo longitudinal, con análisis en espejo en condiciones naturalísticas. Sujetos: Pacientes atendidos en la Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí (Sabadell, Cataluña), en programa de TECm durante más de seis meses. Realizamos los diagnósticos según criterios DSM-IV, subdividiendo la muestra en tres subgrupos: Depresión Mayor Recurrente, Trastorno Bipolar y Esquizofrenia y trastornos Relacionados. Medidas: Análisis comparativo respecto al número de ingresos y duración en los tres años previos al inicio de la TECm y los 3 años posteriores. Análisis comparativo paralelo de los costes directos: ingresos hospitalarios, TECm y costes farmacológicos. Estadística: Descriptiva y pruebas no paramétricas. Resultados. Muestra de 35 pacientes (1997-2008). Existe una disminución significativa de los días y número de ingresos en el total de la muestra y en cada uno de los subgrupos diagnósticos. El coste total directo disminuye, pero, debido al incremento de los costes farmacológicos, sólo es significativo en el caso del subgrupo de Trastorno Bipolar. Conclusiones. La TECm en nuestro medio es un tratamiento efectivo y coste-efectivo con un importante impacto en la reducción de agudizaciones e ingresos hospitalarios (AU)

Introduction. Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy (mECT) is a biological long-term treatment in which patients receive ECT on periods from 2 to 4 weeks, during a variable period of time, usually for more than 6 months. Recent studies showed the efficacy of mECT in prevention of relapse and recurrences. Our study wants to demostrate the effectivity and cost-effectivity of this therapy in the naturalistic conditions of our area. Methodology. Design: Retrospective longitudinal study, with mirror analysis in naturalistic conditions. Subjects: Patients attended at the Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí (Sabadell, Catalonia), and included in the mECT program during more than six months. We performed diagnostic following DSM-IV criteria, subdividing the sample in three groups: patients affected of Recurrent Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia and Related Disorders. Measures: Number and duration of hospitalizations for the previous three years before the beginning of mECT, compared with the same data for the next three years following the beginning of mECT. Comparative analysis of direct hospitalization costs, costs of the mECT and pharmacologic costs. Statistic: Descriptive and non- parametric tests. Results. Sample of 35 patients (1997-2008). There is a significative reduction the number of hospitalizations and days of hospitalization in the total sample and also in each of the three subgroups. The direct total cost decreased but it was only significant in the Bipolar Disorder subgroup, due to the increased pharmacological costs. Conclusions. mECT in our area is an effective and cost-effective treatment with a great impact on the reduction of clinical decline and hospitalizations (AU)