Cost–utility analysis of adjunctive psychosocial therapies in bipolar disorder

Background There are few economic evaluations of adjunctive psychosocial therapies for bipolar disorder. Aims Estimate the cost–utility of in-person psychosocial therapies for adults with bipolar disorder added to treatment as usual (TAU), from an Australian Government perspective. Method We d...

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Main Authors: Mary Lou Chatterton, Yong Yi Lee, Long Khanh-Dao Le, Melanie Nichols, Michael Berk, Cathrine Mihalopoulos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-07-01
Series:BJPsych Open
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472425100689/type/journal_article
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author Mary Lou Chatterton
Yong Yi Lee
Long Khanh-Dao Le
Melanie Nichols
Michael Berk
Cathrine Mihalopoulos
author_facet Mary Lou Chatterton
Yong Yi Lee
Long Khanh-Dao Le
Melanie Nichols
Michael Berk
Cathrine Mihalopoulos
author_sort Mary Lou Chatterton
collection DOAJ
description Background There are few economic evaluations of adjunctive psychosocial therapies for bipolar disorder. Aims Estimate the cost–utility of in-person psychosocial therapies for adults with bipolar disorder added to treatment as usual (TAU), from an Australian Government perspective. Method We developed an economic model, estimating costs in 2021 Australian dollars (A$) and outcomes using quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) averted. The model compared psychoeducation, brief psychoeducation, carer psychoeducation, cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) and family therapy when added to TAU (i.e. pharmacotherapy) over a year for adults (18–65 years) with bipolar disorder. The relative risk of relapse was sourced from two network meta-analyses and applied to the depressive phase in the base case. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis and one-way sensitivity analyses were conducted, assessing robustness of results. Results Carer psychoeducation was preferred in the base case when the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold is below A$1000 per QALY gained and A$1500 per DALY averted. Brief psychoeducation was preferred when WTP is between A$1000 and A$300 000 per QALY gained and A$1500 and A$450 000 per DALY averted. Family therapy was only preferred at WTP thresholds above A$300 000 per QALY gained or A$450 000 per DALY averted. In sensitivity analyses, brief psychoeducation was the preferred therapy. Psychoeducation and CBT were dominated (more costly and less effective) in base-case and sensitivity analyses. Conclusions Carer and brief psychoeducation were found to be the most cost-effective psychosocial therapies, supporting use as adjunctive treatments for adults with bipolar disorder and their families in Australia.
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spelling doaj-art-2eeb31fb1f304582bd6a67ba35a714902025-08-20T02:40:35ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242025-07-011110.1192/bjo.2025.10068Cost–utility analysis of adjunctive psychosocial therapies in bipolar disorderMary Lou Chatterton0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4902-9448Yong Yi Lee1Long Khanh-Dao Le2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9442-6824Melanie Nichols3Michael Berk4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5554-6946Cathrine Mihalopoulos5School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Australia Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, AustraliaInstitute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, AustraliaInstitute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia Background There are few economic evaluations of adjunctive psychosocial therapies for bipolar disorder. Aims Estimate the cost–utility of in-person psychosocial therapies for adults with bipolar disorder added to treatment as usual (TAU), from an Australian Government perspective. Method We developed an economic model, estimating costs in 2021 Australian dollars (A$) and outcomes using quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) averted. The model compared psychoeducation, brief psychoeducation, carer psychoeducation, cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) and family therapy when added to TAU (i.e. pharmacotherapy) over a year for adults (18–65 years) with bipolar disorder. The relative risk of relapse was sourced from two network meta-analyses and applied to the depressive phase in the base case. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis and one-way sensitivity analyses were conducted, assessing robustness of results. Results Carer psychoeducation was preferred in the base case when the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold is below A$1000 per QALY gained and A$1500 per DALY averted. Brief psychoeducation was preferred when WTP is between A$1000 and A$300 000 per QALY gained and A$1500 and A$450 000 per DALY averted. Family therapy was only preferred at WTP thresholds above A$300 000 per QALY gained or A$450 000 per DALY averted. In sensitivity analyses, brief psychoeducation was the preferred therapy. Psychoeducation and CBT were dominated (more costly and less effective) in base-case and sensitivity analyses. Conclusions Carer and brief psychoeducation were found to be the most cost-effective psychosocial therapies, supporting use as adjunctive treatments for adults with bipolar disorder and their families in Australia. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472425100689/type/journal_articleBipolar disordercost-utility analysispsychosocial therapymaniadepression
spellingShingle Mary Lou Chatterton
Yong Yi Lee
Long Khanh-Dao Le
Melanie Nichols
Michael Berk
Cathrine Mihalopoulos
Cost–utility analysis of adjunctive psychosocial therapies in bipolar disorder
BJPsych Open
Bipolar disorder
cost-utility analysis
psychosocial therapy
mania
depression
title Cost–utility analysis of adjunctive psychosocial therapies in bipolar disorder
title_full Cost–utility analysis of adjunctive psychosocial therapies in bipolar disorder
title_fullStr Cost–utility analysis of adjunctive psychosocial therapies in bipolar disorder
title_full_unstemmed Cost–utility analysis of adjunctive psychosocial therapies in bipolar disorder
title_short Cost–utility analysis of adjunctive psychosocial therapies in bipolar disorder
title_sort cost utility analysis of adjunctive psychosocial therapies in bipolar disorder
topic Bipolar disorder
cost-utility analysis
psychosocial therapy
mania
depression
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472425100689/type/journal_article
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