MDD Value Model
An Open-Source Value Model for MDD
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects more than 21 million American adults: about 8.4% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in 2021 (1). Almost 39% of adults with MDD are not receiving treatment following initial diagnosis (2).
Conventional cost-effectiveness models that determine the value of MDD treatments often neglect costs and outcomes that are important to patients, and frequently do not consider the societal impact of these treatments. This can make it difficult for payers, employers, and clinicians to make informed decisions about treatment.
A New Approach
Our MDD Value Model is a patient-centered simulation model that uses a novel approach to engage stakeholders and obtain patient input. The model can be used to compare the cost-effectiveness of different treatment options or sequences of treatment options for MDD. Unlike traditional health economic models, our MDD Value Model was developed using a continual engagement approach with a 20-member multi-stakeholder advisory committee from the outset and incorporates both qualitative and quantitative data by integrating patient-centric inputs upstream in the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) process. Through the Center’s innovative and collaborative approach, our MDD Value Model is designed to advance patient-centered and equitable care for MDD and implement innovative methods and procedures for HTA in the U.S.
Get Started with Our MDD Value Model
Our Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Value Model is an open-source simulation model. It uses a web-based interface designed to help healthcare and other decision-makers evaluate treatment strategies (drug and non-drug) for MDD.
RESOURCES
dosReis, S., Bozzi, L.M., Butler, B., Xie, R.Z., Chapman, R.H., Bright, J., Malik, E., and Slejko, J.F. “Preferences for Treatments for Major Depressive Disorder: Formative Qualitative Research Using the Patient Experience.” The Patient – Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (2022).
Jansen JP, Incerti D, Linthicum MT. “Developing Open-Source Models for the US Health System: Practical Experiences and Challenges to Date with the Open-Source Value Project.” PharmacoEconomics. 2019;37(11):1313-1320.
Pizzicato LN, Xie RZ, Yang Y, Grabner M, Chapman RH. Real-world treatment modalities, healthcare resource utilization, and costs among commercially insured patients with newly diagnosed major depressive disorder in the United States. Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy 2023; 29(6):614-25.
Xie RZ, Bright JB, deFur Malik E, Chapman RH. “Early Reflections on Stakeholder Engagement in Economic Model Development to Inform Value Assessment.” Value & Outcomes Spotlight. 2022;8(2):37-40.
Xie RZ, Malik E deFur, Linthicum MT, Bright JL. “Putting Stakeholder Engagement at the Center of Health Economic Modeling for Health Technology Assessment in the United States.” PharmacoEconomics. 2021;39(6):631-638.
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement
Work on this first-of-its-kind MDD model tested a novel approach in building value assessment tools, whereby a multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (AG) is engaged, from the outset and throughout the conceptualization and development process. The Advisory Group is comprised of diverse stakeholders, including patients, employers, payers, clinicians, researchers, and model developers. Their insights helped inform the model’s scope, development, validation, and application. Such an endeavor will also allow the Center for Innovation & Value Research to test how such an engagement approach can improve the credibility and relevance of the models.
TIMELINE
The model scope document describes the model objectives, key assumptions, and early specifications. This document will also describe the specific considerations that will be evaluated and confirmed during the protocol development stage.
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The model protocol is a technical document that outlines all necessary details for model structure and analyses, including the analytic approaches, assumptions, data inputs, and model output.
The user interface prototype is an interactive prototype for the MDD model that describes the optimal graphical design of the interface, as well as the granular dynamic components within each screen.
Based on the finalized model protocol and model architecture document, the MDD model will be programmed using the R language. Detailed technical documentation, along with user manuals and tutorials, will also be developed.
The MDD value assessment model will allow users to use the model’s pre-specified inputs or their own data sources to compare treatments for major depressive disorder. All model code is open-source, and we invite users to provide feedback and recommendations for improvement.
The Center for Innovation & Value Research and interested stakeholders will use the MDD model to conduct additional research projects. IVI will update the model as new data sources become available.