A new study led by researchers from the Department of Health Economics has been published in BJPsych Open. The paper, “The cost-effectiveness of predictive algorithm guided primary antidepressant treatment: economic evaluation of the multinational PReDicT randomised controlled trial”, explores whether a predictive algorithm can help guide first-line antidepressant treatment in primary care across five European countries. The findings suggest that this personalised approach may improve well-being and may offer good value for money, especially in the UK.
Read the full publication here.
Dennis Wienand has been named MUW researcher of the month for the in “The Lancet Psychiatry” (IF 24.8) published study “Non-mental health inpatient and emergency care hospital costs associated with four mental disorders in Europe: a modelling study”. This study was conducted as part of Dennis Wienand’s doctoral research under the supervision of Judit Simon, and in collaboration with Guy Goodwin from the University of Oxford.
Further information on this study and about the work of Dennis Wienand at the Department of Health Economics, including a short video, may be found here.
There is limited evidence for mental health interventions to reduce adverse mental health impacts of climatic impact drivers and much of the implementation work relies on other contexts’ concluded a new umbrella review by the Global Evidence on Planetary Mental Health Study Group with Judit Simon, Department of Health Economics, as co-author.
Results of an international randomized clinical trial evaluating the PETRUSHKA tool, a web app for personalizing antidepressant treatment, has been published in JAMA. Judit Simon, Professor of Health Economics at the Medical University of Vienna, is co-investigator of the study, which found that patients who received a personalized antidepressant selected using the PETRUSHKA tool were less likely to discontinue their treatment due to any reason. For further details, see the original publication and a linked Editorial
We are pleased that several members of our department contributed to the ninth ATHEA Conference for Health Economics, which took place in Vienna from 26th to 27th February 2026.
Our researchers presented their latest work through oral presentations, highlight the breadth and impact of our department’s engagement with current methodological and empirical health economic challenges.
- Diexer S. A primary data collection approach to mental health reference unit cost development in Austria: Findings and learnings from the STREAMLINE project. 9th ATHEA conference 2026. Equality in Times of Economic Slowdown. 2026 Feb 26-27; Vienna (oral)
- Mayer S. Bridging the wait gap: The role of private out-of-pocket funding in accelerating MRI access in Austria. 9th ATHEA conference 2026. Equality in Times of Economic Slowdown. 2026 Feb 26-27; Vienna (oral)
- Simon J. Applying a multi-criteria decision analysis framework for the optimization of a complex parenting intervention in Southeast Europe: A cost-consequences analysis of the FLOURISH factorial trial. 9th ATHEA conference 2026. Equality in Times of Economic Slowdown. 2026 Feb 26-27; Vienna (oral)
- Łaszewska A. Understanding preferences for telemedicine among Long Covid patients in Austria. 9th ATHEA conference 2026. Equality in Times of Economic Slowdown. 2026 Feb 26-27; Vienna (oral)