Cost-Effectiveness of Internet-Delivered Emotion Regulation Therapy for Adolescents With Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: Within-Trial Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial Show others and affiliations
2025 (English) In: JMIR Mental Health, E-ISSN 2368-7959, Vol. 12, article id e74303Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Background: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is common among adolescents and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, as well as suicidal behavior. Current treatments are resource-intensive and may not be accessible to all adolescents with NSSI. Internet-delivered emotion regulation individual therapy for adolescents (IERITA) with NSSI disorder is a promising treatment option, but its cost-effectiveness is unknown. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of IERITA for adolescents with NSSI disorder. Methods: Within-trial cost-effectiveness analysis of a randomized controlled trial at three child and adolescent mental health services in Sweden (n=166). A total of 12 weeks of IERITA plus treatment as usual (TAU) versus TAU only were compared. The primary outcome was the frequency of NSSI at 1-month posttreatment. Secondary outcomes were NSSI remission and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Results: IERITA led to reductions in NSSI frequency, a higher proportion of participants with NSSI remission, and more QALYs at 1-month posttreatment, at additional health care costs of US $3663 (95% CI US $2182-$5002) and societal costs of US $4458 (95% CI US $-577 to $9509). The incremental cost of one additional NSSI remission at 1-month posttreatment was US $18,677, and the incremental cost per QALY gained was US $792,244 for IERITA+TAU relative to TAU. IERITA had an 8% probability of being cost-effective at a societal willingness-to-pay threshold of US $84,000 for one QALY at 1-month posttreatment, which increased to 18% at 3-months posttreatment. Conclusions: IERITA delivered adjunctive to TAU led to improvements in NSSI frequency, remission, and QALYs, at additional costs compared to TAU only. This study provides an estimate of the additional cost of delivering IERITA; however, future studies should include longer follow-up periods to better assess the magnitude of the effects on QALYs and societal costs.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages JMIR Publications, 2025. Vol. 12, article id e74303
Keywords [en]
cost-effectiveness, emotion regulation therapy, internet-delivered treatment, nonsuicidal self-injury, self-harm
National Category
Psychiatry Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy
Identifiers URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-568702 DOI: 10.2196/74303 ISI: 001569575200001 PubMedID: 40863344 Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105015382239 OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-568702 DiVA, id: diva2:2004877
Funder Swedish Research Council, 2014.1008 Swedish Research Council, 2017-01506 Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, MAW 2014.0021 Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, 2018.0426 2025-10-082025-10-082026-01-02