Is higher-quality secondary mental healthcare more costly? A systematic review.
Jinyang Chen, Adrián Villaseñor, Maria Ana Matias et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review examined the relationship between the quality and cost of secondary mental healthcare, analyzing nine studies. The findings indicate that higher-quality care does not necessarily lead to increased costs, with some interventions associated with improved quality and stable or reduced costs. Most studies had a moderate to very high risk of bias.
Key findings
- Higher quality care does not necessarily entail higher costs.
- Interventions emphasizing timely access and continued outpatient services improved quality indicators.
- Confounding was the dominant source of bias across all included studies.
Why it matters
Understanding the cost-quality relationship in mental healthcare is crucial for policymakers and clinicians aiming to improve service delivery while managing budgets effectively. This review suggests that quality improvements may not require additional funding.
What to keep in mind
All included studies were rated at moderate to very high risk of bias, limiting the reliability of the findings.