Analytical approach:
The analysis was based on a single study with a 12-week time horizon. The authors stated that the perspective of the public payer was adopted.
Effectiveness data:
The clinical evidence was mainly from the cohort study of 298 patients who were consecutively treated at an out-patient clinic. There were 191 patients in the CBT group and 107 patients in naltrexone group. In the CBT group, 62.6% of patients were male and, in the naltrexone group, 66.5% were male. The mean age in the naltrexone group (43.28 years) was significantly higher than in the CBT group (38.21 years). The key endpoints were the success rate, which was defined as attending all eight treatment sessions and remaining abstinent during the 12-week programme, and the change in preference-based health, which was assessed using the Short Form (SF-6D) Health Survey.
Monetary benefit and utility valuations:
Not assessed.
Measure of benefit:
No summary benefit measure was used, but the costs were adjusted by the treatment success rate, to include the cost of treatment failure.
Cost data:
The economic data were from the Drug Abuse Treatment Cost Analysis Program, which estimated the costs of addiction treatment services, including personnel, supplies, materials, major equipment, contracted services, buildings and facilities, and miscellaneous resources. The resource use was from the sample of patients in the cohort study. All costs were in Australian dollars (AUD).
Analysis of uncertainty:
Not investigated.