A cost-of-illness analysis of the economic burden of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the United Kingdom.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and debilitating psychiatric condition, with diagnosed patients typically experiencing moderate or severe symptoms. This study evaluated the cost-of-illness (CoI) of OCD in the UK, capturing the annual costs accrued to the National Health Service (NHS) and Personal Social Services (PSS), people with OCD, caregivers and society. The UK OCD population was estimated and stratified by age group (children, adults, elderly), symptom severity (mild, moderate, severe) and treatment received (including no treatment). Costs for each subpopulation were estimated through a prevalence-based approach. Cost inputs were sourced from national databases, while additional inputs were informed by literature searches or expert clinician opinion. Scenario analyses explored other factors including comorbid depression treatment and presenteeism. The base-case analysis estimated a total annual CoI of £378,356,004 to the NHS, rising to £5,095,759,464 when a societal perspective was considered. The annual cost of care per person with OCD increased with severity (mild: £174; moderate: £365; severe: £902) due to increasing healthcare resource utilisation. The largest contributor to healthcare costs was cognitive behavioural therapy, while societal costs were driven by lost productivity through absenteeism. The base-case results likely underestimated the true economic burden of OCD; including comorbid depression led to a 132% increase in treatment costs, while presenteeism in people with OCD and lost productivity in caregivers amplified indirect costs. The economic burden of OCD in the UK is substantial and extends beyond direct treatment costs, highlighting a need for research into alternative treatments with greater efficacy.

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Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of Competing Interest Naman Kochar, Sophi Ip, Vittoria Vardanega: None. Nick Sireau: Received grants or contracts from the Bally's Foundation, Saracens Foundation, Hospital Saturday Trust and the Big Lottery Fund; received consulting fees from Biohaven; received support for attending meetings of the World Orphan Drug Congress; has patents planned, issued or pending for a glutamate modulator for OCD; is a board member of Orchard OCD, Director of Sirgartan Therapeutics/Holdings, Director of Sireau Labs, Chair and CEO of the AKU Society and Chair of Beacon for Rare Diseases. Naomi Fineberg: Received grants or contracts from COST Action, University of Hertfordshire and Orchard OCD; received payment or honoraria from Global Mental Health Academy; received support for attending meetings of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, British Association for Psychopharmacology, World Psychiatric Association and the Royal College of Psychiatrists; is a board member of Orchard OCD, secretary of the International College of Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders, chair of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Review Board and sits on the Expert Advisory Group for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.