Cost-effectiveness of bupropion, nortriptyline, and psychological intervention in smoking cessation

J Behav Health Serv Res. 2005 Oct-Dec;32(4):381-92. doi: 10.1007/BF02384199.

Abstract

Sustained-release bupropion and nortriptyline have been shown to be efficacious in treating cigarette smoking. Psychological intervention is also recognized as efficacious. The cost and cost-effectiveness of the 2 drug therapies have not been estimated. It was hypothesized that nortriptyline would be more cost-effective than bupropion. Hypotheses were not originally proposed concerning the cost-effectiveness of psychological versus drug treatment, but the 2 were compared using exploratory analyses. This was a 3 (bupropion versus nortriptyline versus placebo) by 2 (medical management alone versus medical management plus psychological intervention) randomized trial. Participants were 220 cigarette smokers. Outcome measures were cost and cost-effectiveness computed at week 52. Nortriptyline cost less than bupropion. Nortriptyline was more cost-effective than bupropion; the difference was not statistically significant. Psychological intervention cost less than the 2 drug treatments, and was more cost-effective, but not significantly so. Prospective investigations of the cost and cost-effectiveness of psychological and pharmacological intervention, using adequate sample sizes, are warranted.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents / economics*
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Bupropion / economics*
  • Bupropion / therapeutic use
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / economics*
  • Combined Modality Therapy / economics
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Costs / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nortriptyline / economics*
  • Nortriptyline / therapeutic use
  • Patient Care Team / economics
  • Psychotherapy, Group / economics*
  • Referral and Consultation / economics
  • Smoking Cessation / economics*
  • Smoking Cessation / psychology

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Bupropion
  • Nortriptyline