WP5: Cost-effectiveness study

A cost-effectiveness analysis will investigate the possible long-term societal benefits of the VR8-solution, when the clinical studies are complete.

The analysis will show whether VR8 intervention provides a long-term societal benefit by investing in treatment, for example getting patients back to work. The cost-effectiveness analysis will include direct costs associated with patients’ use of the health care system, as well as indirect costs such as lost labor.

The cost-effectiveness analysis will be based on the results from the randomized controlled trials of the clinical effects. Besides the clinical data the study will include data gathered from each of the 180 participants regarding:

• Time usage spent on VR treatment
• Other treatment in psychiatric wards
• Treatment at general practitioner
• Employment
• Sick leave from work

On the basis of this calculations of the average treatment costs and indirect cost in the form of sick leave from daily occupation, such as work or studies, will be made. By comparison to the clinical data of the treatments effect the cost-benefit relationship will be calculated. The economic analysis thus gives a total picture of the relationship between cost per patient and the achieved effect