Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/285184 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Citation: 
[Journal:] Health Economics Review [ISSN:] 2191-1991 [Volume:] 10 [Issue:] 19 [Year:] 2020 [Pages:] 1-11
Publisher: 
Springer, Heidelberg
Abstract: 
Background: Depressive disorders often remain undiagnosed or are treated inadequately. Online-based programs may reduce the present treatment gap for depressive disorders and reduce disease-related costs. This study aimed to examine the potential of the internet intervention "deprexis" to reduce the total costs of statutory health insurance. Changes in depression severity, health-related quality of life and impairment in functioning were also examined. Method: A total of 3805 participants with, at minimum, mild depressive symptoms were randomized to either a 12- week online intervention (deprexis) or a control condition. The primary outcome measure was statutory health insurance costs, estimated using health insurers' administrative data. Secondary outcomes were: depression severity, health-related quality of life, and impairment in functioning; assessed on patient's self-report at baseline, posttreatment, and three-months' and nine-months' follow-up. Results: In both groups, total costs of statutory health insurance decreased during the study period, but changes from baseline differed significantly. In the intervention group total costs decreased by 32% from 3139€ per year at baseline to 2119€ in the study year (vs. a mean reduction in total costs of 13% in the control group). In comparison to the control group, the intervention group also showed a significantly greater reduction in depression severity, and impairment in functioning and a significantly greater increase in health-related quality of life. Conclusion: The study underlines the potential of innovative internet intervention programs in treating depressive disorders. The results suggest that the use of deprexis over a period of 12 weeks leads to a significant improvement in symptoms with a simultaneous reduction in the costs of statutory health insurance.
Subjects: 
Economic issues
Outcome studies
Health economic evaluation
E-mental-health
Deprexis
Depression
Randomized controlled trial
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by Logo
Document Type: 
Article

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