This article uses several recent comparative effectiveness studies to illustrate the value of such research for mental health treatment.   

Wang, P. S., C. M. Ulbricht, et al. (2009). Improving mental health treatments through comparative effectiveness research. Health Affairs, 28(3), 783-91. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.3.783 http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/28/3/783

Authors: Philip S. Wang, Christine M. Ulbricht, Michael Schoenbaum.

This study found that the reduced supply of public psychiatric beds increased suicide rates.  The study found no evidence that non-profit or for-profit bed supply compensated for public bed losses; however, greater community mental health spending lessened the effects.  The authors conclude that continued reductions in public mental health beds will increase suicide rates; however, increasing community mental health investments may be promising. 

Yoon, J., & Bruckner, T. A. (2009). Does deinstitutionalization increase suicide? Health Serv Res., 44(4), 1385-1405. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/hesr/2009/00000044/00000004/art00017;jsessionid=7hch2t5n493l.alexandra 

Authors: Tim A. Bruckner, Jangho Yoon.

This article estimates health-care demands by calculating expected end-of-year prices and incorporating them into a zero-inflated ordered probit model applied to several overlapping panels of data from 1996 to 2003.  The authors found that the price responsiveness of ambulatory mental health treatment has decreased substantially and is now slightly lower than physical health treatment, suggesting that concerns over moral hazard alone do not warrant less generous coverage for mental health. 

Meyerhoefer, C. D. and S. H. Zuvekas (2009). New estimates of the demand for physical and mental health treatment. Health Economics. [epub ahead of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19350688 

Using simulated bill paying and data from MarketScan and an employer health benefit survey, this study examines examines trends in comprehensiveness of coverage, out-of-pocket spending for medical services, underinsurance, and the afford ability of employer-based insurance from 2004 to 2007.  The study finds that health plans covered slightly fewer expenses in 2007 than in 2004 and that out-of-pocket spending grew by more than 33 percent owing largely to growth in overall spending. The study found that the increased costs significantly affected those earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). 

Gabel, J. R., R. McDevitt, et al. (2009). Trends in underinsurance and the afford ability of employer coverage, 2004-2007. Health Affairs, 28(4), w595-w606. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.4.w595 http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/28/4/w595 

Authors: Jon R. Gabel, Roland McDevitt, Ryan Lore, Jeremy Pickreign, Heidi Whitmore and Tina Ding

This article shows that, in spite of the increasing similarities between mental health care and general health care delivery and financing, important differences remain in patterns of spending growth.   

Frank, R. G., H. H. Goldman, et al. (2009). Trends in mental health cost growth: an expanded role for management? Health Affairs, 28(3), 649-59. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.3.649 http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/short/28/3/649 

Authors: Richard G. Frank, Howard H. Goldman, Thomas G. McGuire.

In 2007, U.S. health care spending growth increased 6.1 percent, the lowest rate of growth since 1998.  The study attributes the slower growth to retail prescription drug spending an government administration. 

Hartman, M., Martin, A., & McDonnell, P. (2009). National health spending in 2007: slower drug spending growth contributes to lowest rate of overall growth since 1998. Health Affairs, 28(1), 246-261. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.1.246 http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/28/1/246 

Authors: Micah Hartman, Anne Martin, Patricia McDonnell, Aaron Catlin.