Cost‐benefit analysis of an educational program for general practitioners by the Swedish Committee for the Prevention and Treatment of Depression

In 1983-1984 the Swedish Committee for the Prevention and Treatment of Depression launched an educational program on the diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders for all general practitioners on the island of Gotland. The baseline year chosen was 1982 and the immediate effects were evaluated in 1985. In 1988 the long-term effects were evaluated. These two evaluations indicated strictly time-related beneficial effects on the frequency of sick leave and inpatient care for depressive disorders, the pattern of prescription of psychopharmacologic drugs and the frequency of suicide. This article describes a cost-benefit analysis of the program. The cost of the educational program, changes in drug prescription and inpatient care were calculated as well as indirect costs concerning changes in morbidity and mortality. The calculation of the savings to society was subject to a sensitivity analysis. This shows that the educational program resulted in savings to society on the order of about SEK 155 million (USD 26 million). It is concluded that educational programs of this kind should be repeated every second to third year.