Economic evaluation of neurological and mental disorders in Spain: systematic review and comparative analysis

Aim. We analyzed the trends over time and the characteristics of economic evaluation studies of neurological and mental disorders published in Spain between 1983 and 2008. Materials and methods. Systematic review and comparative analysis calculating odds ratios (OR). Electronic searches for literature were conducted in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, ISI Web of Knowledge, CRD, IME and IBECS, and manually in specialized journals and technical reports. Results. The 52 studies included in the review showed heterogeneity in the quality of the information regarding methods of analysis and data sources. Economic evaluation studies of neurological and mental disorders showed the following associations, compared to a cohort of studies of other disease conditions (n = 425): cost-utility analysis (OR = 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 0.77-3.22), treatments (OR = 3.02; 95% CI = 1.33-6.88), simulation mathematics models (OR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.30-4.87), and healthcare system perspective (OR = 1.43; 95% CI = 0.80-2.54). Conclusions. Findings suggested that there is little research on economic evaluation research on neurological and mental disorders in Spain. In the future, more and better quality economic evaluation studies -according to their burden generated are expected.