This study aims to systematically review the literature on health utility in depression
generated by time trade-off (TTO) method and to compare health state vignettes.Systematic
literature search was conducted following PRISMA guideline in 2020 November (updated
in 2022 March) in Pubmed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Cochrane Database of Systematic
Reviews. Random effect meta-analysis was conducted to pool vignette-based utility
values of mild, moderate, and severe depression and to compare the preferences of
depressed and nondepressed population.Overall, 264 records were found, 143 screened
by title and abstract after removing duplicates, 18 assessed full text, and 14 original
publications included. Majority of the studies (n = 9) used conventional TTO method,
and most of the studies (n = 8) applied 10-year timeframe. Eight studies evaluated
self-experienced health (own-current depression). Six studies assessed vignette-based
health states of remitted, mild, moderate, and severe depression, half of them applied
McSad measure based health description. Altogether, 61 different utility values have
been cataloged, mean utility of self-experienced depression states (n = 33) ranged
between 0.89 (current-own depression) and 0.24 (worst experienced depression). Pooled
utility estimates for vignette-based mild, moderate, and severe depression was 0.75,
0.66 and 0.50, respectively. Meta-regression showed that severe depression (β = -0.16)
and depressed sample populations (β = -0.13) significantly decrease vignette-based
utility scores.Our review revealed extent heterogeneity both in TTO methodology and
health state vignette development. Patient's perception of depression health states
was worse than healthy respondents.
