Assessing Outcomes for Cost-Utility Analysis in Children and Adolescents With Mental Health Problems: Are Multiattribute Utility Instruments Fit for Purpose?

Cathrine Mihalopoulos, Gang Chen, James G. Scott, Jessica Bucholc, Cassandra Allen, David Coghill, Peter Jenkins, Richard Norman, Julie Ratcliffe, Jeffrey Richardson, Stephen Stathis, Rosalie Viney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the concurrent and construct validity, as well as the sensitivity of 5 multiattribute utility instruments (MAUIs), including the Assessment of Quality of Life-6D (AQoL-6D), EQ-5D-Y, Health Utilities Index (HUI)-2 and HUI-3, and the Child Health Utility 9D, 1 generic pediatric quality of life instrument, with 3 routinely collected outcome measures in Australian mental health services (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Clinical Global Assessment Scale [CGAS] and the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale for Children and Adolescents) in children and adolescents diagnosed of internalizing (eg, anxiety/depression), externalizing (eg, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder/conduct disorders), and trauma/stress related mental disorders. 

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of measures, including demographic and basic treatment information, in children/adolescents recruited via 5 child and youth mental health services in Queensland and Victoria, Australia. Measures were either proxy or self-report completed, the CGAS and the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale for Children and Adolescents were clinician completed. 

Results: The sample included 426 participants and had a mean age of 13.7 years (range 7-18 years). Utilities (as calculated from MAUIs) were generally lower in older adolescents and those with internalizing disorders. All MAUIs and self-reported clinical measures significantly correlated with each other (absolute correlation range 0.40-0.90), with the AQoL-6D showing generally higher levels of correlations. Correlations between the MAUIs and clinician/proxy-reported measures were weak, regardless of diagnosis (absolute correlation range 0.09-0.47). Generally, EQ-5D-Y, HUI-2, and AQoL-6D were more sensitive than Child Health Utility 9D and HUI-3 when distinguishing between different severities according to clinician-assessed CGAS (effect size range 0.17-0.84). 

Conclusions: The study showed that the commonly used MAUIs had good concurrent and construct validity compared with routinely used self-complete measures but poor validity when compared with clinician/proxy-completed measures. These findings generally held across different diagnoses.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)733-741
Number of pages9
JournalValue in Health
Volume26
Issue number5
Early online date16 Dec 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2023

Keywords

  • child and adolescent mental health
  • cost-utility analysis
  • economic evaluation
  • multiattribute utility instruments
  • outcome measures
  • quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs)
  • utility weights
  • young people's mental health

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