Sustained reduction in health care costs after adjunctive treatment of graded intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy in patients with psychotic disorders

Allan Abbass, Denise Bernier, Steve Kisely, Joel Town, Robert Johansson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the changes in symptom severity and long-term health care cost after intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) individually tailored and administered to patients with psychotic disorders undergoing standard psychiatric care. Eleven therapists with different levels of expertise delivered an average of 13 one-hour sessions of graded ISTDP to 38 patients with psychotic disorders. Costs for health care services were compiled for a one-year period prior to the start of ISTDP (baseline) along with four one-year periods after termination. Two validated self-report scales, the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, were administered at intake and termination of ISTDP. Results revealed that health care cost reductions were significant for the one-year post-treatment period relative to baseline year, for both physician costs and hospital costs, and the reductions were sustained for the follow-up period of four post-treatment years. Furthermore, at treatment termination self-reported symptoms and interpersonal problems were significantly reduced. These preliminary findings suggest that this brief adjunctive psychotherapy may be beneficial and reduce costs in selected patients with psychotic disorders, and that gains are sustained in long-term follow-up. Future research directions are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)538-543
Number of pages6
JournalPsychiatry Research
Volume228
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 30 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by grants from the Dalhousie University Department of Psychiatry , the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness , the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia and the Capital Health Mental Health Program .

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Biological Psychiatry

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