A research study in Australia looked into the cost-effectiveness of rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with pharmacotherapy.
Researchers looked at patients with MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) who were resistant to pharmaceutical therapy in that they’d had at least 2 courses of antidepressants.
The conclusion was that both medication and rTMS are clinically effective; but rTMS is more cost-effective.
Antidepressants Results
Up to 40% of patients with major depressive disorder do not respond to or cannot tolerate the medication. Up to 85% of patients who do respond can be expected to relapse within 15 years.
This makes other methods of treatment an attractive prospect.
rTMS More Cost-Effective
Based on a series of complex calculations and simulation models, researchers concluded that rTMS was a compelling alternative to medication:
- The probability that rTMS was dominant (ie, provided better patient quality-of-life at lower cost) was 32%
- The probability that rTMS was cost-effective compared with antidepressant therapy was 41%
Psychiatric Times
The conclusion of the research was published in the Psychiatric Times
Sensitivity analyses confirmed the superiority of rTMS in terms of value for money compared with antidepressant medications, with multivariate analysis showing that the probability of rTMS being either dominant or cost-effective compared with antidepressant therapy exceeded 70%.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a technological breakthrough in the treatment of depression. The treatment is now available in London, based at The Smart Clinics Brompton Cross (South Kensington).
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