What is it about?
This review aimed to evaluate the economic impact of ISTDP to provide a quick reference for commissioners and decision-makers tasked with reducing healthcare costs.
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Why is it important?
Healthcare providers need options for psychological treatment which are both clinically effective and cost efficient. This research examined a known effective treatment, namely ISTDP, and reviewed the data on cost reductions following intervention. This article identifies evidence of substantial reductions in hospital, physician, and medication costs following ISTDP treatment of over $4500 CAD per case for patients with mental health conditions and functional somatic disorders. There was also evidence of significant reductions in disability costs of over $2.5 million dollars from nearly 600 cases following ISTDP treatment. These results may be of specific interest to healthcare commissioners and service providers seeking clinically effective treatment in real world conditions who are also mandated to reduce costs and save money. Similarly, governing bodies at the federal or state level aiming to reduce financial social care burden and improve workforce productivity may also be interested in the outcome of this review.
Perspectives
Across the world we are facing an unprecedented crisis in public funding for healthcare systems. Now more than ever we need to know which psychological therapies actually help people to get better whilst also offering the best bang for your buck. This review demonstrated that integrating ISTDP into public services could alleviate budget pressures whilst delivering faster, more durable patient recovery.
Dr Leo Russell
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Cost-Effectiveness of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy in Public Health Care Settings, American Journal of Psychotherapy, May 2025, American Psychiatric Association,
DOI: 10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.20240041.
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