Comparing Cost-Effectiveness of Aripiprazole Augmentation With Other "Next-Step" Depression Treatment Strategies: A Randomized Clinical Trial

J Clin Psychiatry. 2018 Dec 18;80(1):18m12294. doi: 10.4088/JCP.18m12294.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the cost-effectiveness of 3 common alternate treatments for depression.

Methods: The cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted as part of a randomized clinical trial, the Veterans Affairs Augmentation and Switching Treatments for Improving Depression Outcomes (VAST-D) trial, in which patients were randomized from December 2012 to May 2015 and followed for 12 weeks in 35 Veterans Affairs medical centers. Depression diagnosis was based on ICD-9 codes. Patients were randomized to standard antidepressant therapy augmented with aripiprazole, standard antidepressant therapy augmented with bupropion, or switch to bupropion. Remission was measured using the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Clinican Rated. Outcomes included the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) comparing costs per remission and costs per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) with 12 weeks as the time horizon using the health care sector perspective.

Results: The mean age of participants enrolled in the trial (N = 1,522) was 54 years, and participants were predominantly male. The rate of remission at 12 weeks was highest for the aripiprazole augmentation arm (29%), followed by bupropion augmentation (27%), and lowest for switching to bupropion (22%). Switching to bupropion was strongly dominated by bupropion augmentation at an ICER of -$640/remission (95% CI, -$5,770 to $3,008). The ICER for the aripiprazole augmentation versus switching to bupropion was $1,074/remission (95% CI, $47 to $5,022), and the ICER for aripiprazole augmentation versus bupropion augmentation was $5,094/remission (95% CI, -$34,027 to $32,774). There were no significant differences in QALYs, mental health care costs, employment, or other work and social adjustment outcomes between treatment groups.

Conclusions: In treatment of depression with less than optimal response, augmentation with either aripiprazole or bupropion was cost-effective relative to switching to bupropion.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01421342.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / economics*
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use
  • Aripiprazole / economics*
  • Aripiprazole / therapeutic use
  • Bupropion / economics*
  • Bupropion / therapeutic use
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Depression / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / drug therapy*
  • Drug Substitution
  • Drug Synergism
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Remission Induction
  • United States
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Veterans / psychology

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Bupropion
  • Aripiprazole

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01421342