Willingness To Pay For Genetic Testing Concerning Depression

Main Category: Genetics
Also Included In: Depression
Article Date: 22 Oct 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Danes are willing to pay more for genetic testing when treating depression than the cost of the testing itself, implying that genetic testing is socially useful.

Based on a survey among Danes the study estimates the supposed willingness-to-pay for genetic testing as part of the treatment of depression.

Pharmacogenetic testing conducted with a simple test with life-time valid results provides information on drug metabolization that can reduce number of changes in medicine and time spent for dose adjustment. The study was co-authored by Mickael Bech from the University of Southern Denmark and Dorte Gyrd-Hansen from the Danish Institute of Health Services Research and the University of Southern Denmark.

The future role of pharmacogenomic testing in disease treatment seems to be substantial and more studies are recommended to verify costs and benefits.

"It appears that also people without personal experience of depression are willing to pay the price for a genetic test to improve chances of faster symptom relief and fewer side effects, should they ever get the disease", says author Louise Herbild.

The study will be discussed in of Value in Health, the official journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and outcomes Research.

Value in Health (ISSN 1098-3015) publishes papers, concepts, and ideas that advance the field of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research and help health care leaders to make decisions that are solidly evidence-based. The journal is published bi-monthly and has a regular readership of over 4,000 clinicians, decision-makers, and researchers worldwide.

ISPOR is a nonprofit, international organization that strives to translate pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research into practice to ensure that society allocates scarce health care resources wisely, fairly, and efficiently.

ISPOR