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Is mental health economics important in geriatric psychiatry in developing countries?
Author(s) -
Shah Ajit,
Murthy Srinivasa,
Suh GuhKee
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.696
Subject(s) - developing country , mental health , developed country , economic cost , health care , geriatric psychiatry , psychiatry , health economics , medicine , economic growth , public economics , environmental health , economics , population , neoclassical economics
Background Limited healthcare budgets and a seamless demand for resources suggests that a formula for allocating resources is needed. Economic evaluation can assist in developing this formula. Method Mental health economic studies (cost minimisation, cost‐effectiveness, cost‐utility, cost‐benefit and cost of illness analysis) in geriatric psychiatry from developed and developed countries were examined along with all mental health economic studies in developed countries. Results There were no health economic studies in geriatric psychiatry from developing countries against a background of many such studies in developed countries. There were a greater number of health economic studies in other areas of psychiatry in developing countries. Several reasons for the paucity of such studies, the feasibility of undertaking these studies and their significance are discussed. Conclusion Mental health economic studies in geriatric psychiatry in developing countries are feasible, realistic and may well have an important part to play in the allocation of resources. Also, data sets necessary for such studies are emerging from many developing countries. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.