@Article{info:doi/10.2196/jmir.1436,
author="Warmerdam, Lisanne
and Smit, Filip
and van Straten, Annemieke
and Riper, Heleen
and Cuijpers, Pim",
title="Cost-Utility and Cost-Effectiveness of Internet-Based Treatment for Adults With Depressive Symptoms: Randomized Trial",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2010",
month="Dec",
day="19",
volume="12",
number="5",
pages="e53",
keywords="Costs and cost analysis; cost-benefit analysis; depression; Internet; computer-assisted instruction; cognitive therapy; problem solving; randomized controlled trial",
abstract="Background: The effectiveness of Internet-based treatments for depression has been demonstrated; their cost-effectiveness, however, has been less well researched. Objective: Evaluating the relative cost-utility and cost-effectiveness of (1) Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, (2) Internet-based problem-solving therapy, and (3) a waiting list for adults with depressive symptoms. Methods:  A total of 263 participants with clinically significant depressive symptoms were randomized to Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (n = 88), Internet-based problem-solving therapy (n = 88), and a waiting list (n = 87). End points were evaluated at the 12-week follow-up. Results: Cost-utility analysis showed that cognitive behavioral therapy and problem-solving therapy had a 52{\%} and 61{\%} probability respectively of being more acceptable than waiting when the willingness to pay is {\texteuro} 30,000 for one quality-adjusted life-year. When society is prepared to pay {\texteuro} 10,000 for a clinically significant change from depression, the probabilities of cognitive behavioral therapy and problem-solving therapy being more acceptable than waiting are 91{\%} and 89{\%}, respectively. Comparing both Internet-based treatments showed no clear preference for one or the other of the treatments. Conclusions: Both Internet-based treatments have a high probability of being cost-effective with a modest value placed on clinically significant change in depressive symptoms. Trial Registration: ISRCTN16823487; http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN16823487 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5u8slzhDE) ",
issn="1438-8871",
doi="10.2196/jmir.1436",
url="http://www.jmir.org/2010/5/e53/",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.1436",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21169166"
}