Back to Search
Start Over
Economic analysis of early intervention for autistic children: findings from four case studies in England, Ireland, Italy, and Spain.
- Source :
-
European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists [Eur Psychiatry] 2023 Sep 21; Vol. 66 (1), pp. e76. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 21. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Background: Many autistic children experience difficulties in their communication and language skills development, with consequences for social development into adulthood, often resulting in challenges over the life-course and high economic impacts for individuals, families, and society. The Preschool Autism Communication Trial (PACT) intervention is effective in terms of improved social communication and some secondary outcomes. A previously published within-trial economic analysis found that results at 13 months did not support its cost-effectiveness. We modeled cost-effectiveness over 6 years and across four European countries.<br />Methods: Using simulation modeling, we built on economic analyses in the original trial, exploring longer-term cost-effectiveness at 6 years (in England). We adapted our model to undertake an economic analysis of PACT in Ireland, Italy, and Spain. Data on resource use were taken from the original trial and a more recent Irish observational study.<br />Results: PACT is cost-saving over time from a societal perspective, even though we confirmed that, at 13 months post-delivery, PACT is more expensive than usual treatment (across all countries) when given to preschool autistic children. After 6 years, we found that PACT has lower costs than usual treatment in terms of unpaid care provided by parents (in all countries). Also, if we consider only out-of-pocket expenses from an Irish study, PACT costs less than usual treatment.<br />Discussion: PACT may be recommended as a cost-saving early intervention for families with an autistic child.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1778-3585
- Volume :
- 66
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 37732502
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2449