Cost-effectiveness of a collaborative stepped care intervention for anxiety disorders in primary care: a randomised controlled trial. (WC2006-072)
Background
Starting date: 01/01/2007 BackgroundAnxiety disorders are highly prevalent in primary care. Of the anxiety disorders, panic disorder (PD) and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) are the most costly 1;2 and disabling 3 anxiety disorders that are frequently seen in primary care.
These disorders can be successfully treated, but only a minority of patients receive adequate treatment according to guidelines 4 5 6;7. There are several reasons for this lack of adequate treatment. Examples of these are a low recognition rate, competing demands in a patients’ visit in primary care and the structure of primary care, which is based on acute care instead of chronic care 8. To overcome these problems, an organisational intervention can be used. The “collaborative care model” used in this study has already proven its effectiveness in managing depression in primary care 9 and has shown some promising results in managing anxiety disorders in the United States 10 11 12 13.