Health is more important than money invested in identification/assessment of case
It is unfortunate that the economic analysis of NICE recommendations
(2007)1 on postnatal depression done by Paulden et al (2010)2 ended with
negative results. Postnatal depression in women is an important public
health problem faced b y clinicians throughout the world. Hence, its
assessment and management needs a significant public expenditure
everywhere including NHS. If governments have to achieve goal of 'Health
for all', they needs to spend a significant exchequer on health
assessment/identification programs. Therefore, the data presented by
Paulden et al. need to be looked as one of the cost analysis of any health
intervention. It does not mean that NHS should stop programme for
postnatal depression.
References:
1. National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)( 2007) Antenatal and
postnatal mental health: Clinical management and service guidance,
Clinical Guideline No. 47. London, National Institute for Clinical
Excellence.
2. Paulden, M. Palmer, S. Hewitt, C. Gilbody S. (2010) Screening for
postnatal depression in primary care: cost effectiveness analysis BMJ,;
339: b5203. 2.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
26 June 2011
Om Prakash
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Consultant in Adult & Geriatric Psychiatry
Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS), New Delhi, INDIA
Rapid Response:
Health is more important than money invested in identification/assessment of case
It is unfortunate that the economic analysis of NICE recommendations
(2007)1 on postnatal depression done by Paulden et al (2010)2 ended with
negative results. Postnatal depression in women is an important public
health problem faced b y clinicians throughout the world. Hence, its
assessment and management needs a significant public expenditure
everywhere including NHS. If governments have to achieve goal of 'Health
for all', they needs to spend a significant exchequer on health
assessment/identification programs. Therefore, the data presented by
Paulden et al. need to be looked as one of the cost analysis of any health
intervention. It does not mean that NHS should stop programme for
postnatal depression.
References:
1. National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)( 2007) Antenatal and
postnatal mental health: Clinical management and service guidance,
Clinical Guideline No. 47. London, National Institute for Clinical
Excellence.
2. Paulden, M. Palmer, S. Hewitt, C. Gilbody S. (2010) Screening for
postnatal depression in primary care: cost effectiveness analysis BMJ,;
339: b5203. 2.
Competing interests: No competing interests