Publisher's Synopsis
The resource dimension has become increasingly important in mental health care. Policy makers want to know the cost implications of alternative policies or care practices. Purchasers and providers in internal or other markets need to assess the cost-effectiveness of different services and packages of care. Pharmaceutical companies are using economic evaluations to inform their product development and marketing. And, of course, accountability checks in public sector health and local authorities ? including audits and performance reviews ? frequently embody economic elements. - - The Economic Evaluation of Mental Health Care describes the context for this increasing interest, and identifies the types of demand for new evaluative evidence. It sets out a framework for economic evaluations, introduces the different modes and methods of analysis, and illustrates them with examples drawn from completed research. - - This book will therefore help policy makers, purchasers and providers to gain a better understanding of the consequences of their decisions. It will help mental health care practitioners to judge the validity and relevance of cost-effectiveness evidence relating to different therapies, treatments or support arrangements. The book can also serve as an introduction to health economics evaluation for the student and the mental health researcher.
