Cost-effectiveness of Brief Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Versus Treatment as Usual in Recurrent Deliberate Self-harm: a Decision-making Approach

Any intervention that reduces episodes of self-harm might have a major impact on the costs incurred by service providers & productivity losses due to illness or premature death. A study including 480 patients with a history of recurrent deliberate self-harm were randomized to manual-assisted cognitive behaviour therapy (MACT) or treatment as usual. Economic data was collected from patients at baseline, 6 & 12 months, this data was completed for 397 patients. Differences in total cost per patient were statistically significant at 6 months in favour of MACT but not at 12 months. (LC) (37 refs)