Economics of Psychotherapy

The paper reports the results of the analysis of modern notions about the economics of psychotherapy. Despite its great practical significance, this issue is insufficiently represented in Russian publications, arising mostly in foreign works. We consider two general concepts: efficiency and equity. The practice of research evaluation in psychotherapy distinguishes between (a) the efficacy of therapy — results of empirical psychotherapeutic research; (b) clinical (qualitative) effectiveness of therapy — results of psychotherapy in everyday practice; and (c) the notion of cost-effectiveness — a practical criterion; it characterizes the expenses for the achievement of a goal. Other expenses also ought to be taken into consideration. Additionally, we mark out progressive cost-effectiveness as a separate coefficient.