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Depression has a substantial impact on HRQL. Our results indicate that treatments for depression are associated with significant improvement in EQ-5D index score over a course of 6 months. Self-reported patient valuations are important outcomes for cost-utility analysis of new treatments for depression and the present study provides important evidence for future economic evaluations.

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SUMMARYPurpose: Based on available epidemiologic, health economic, and international population statistics literature, the cost of epilepsy in Europe was estimated. Methods: Europe was defined as the 25 European Union member countries, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. Guidelines for epidemiological studies on epilepsy were used for a case definition. A bottom-up prevalence-based cost-of-illness approach, the societal perspective for including the cost items, and the human capital approach as valuation principle for indirect costs were used. The cost estimates were based on selected studies with common methodology and valuation principles. Results: The estimated prevalence of epilepsy in Europe in 2004 was 4.3-7.8 per 1,000. The estimated total cost of the disease in Europe was €15.5 billion in 2004, indirect cost being the single most dominant cost category (€8.6 billion).Direct health care costs were €2.8 billion, outpatient care comprising the largest part (€1.3 billion). Direct nonmedical cost was €4.2 billion. That of antiepileptic drugs was €400 million. The total cost per case was €2,000-11,500 and the estimated cost per European inhabitant was €33. Conclusions: Epilepsy is a relevant socioeconomic burden at individual, family, health services, and societal level in Europe. The greater proportion of such burden is outside the formal health care sector, antiepileptic drugs representing a smaller proportion. Lack of economic data from several European countries and other methodological limitations make this report an initial estimate of the cost of epilepsy in Europe. Prospective incidence costof-illness studies from well-defined populations and common methodology are encouraged. KEY WORDS: Epilepsy-Cost-of-illness-Prevalence-Europe.Epilepsy is a common and widespread neurological disorder found in all age groups and whose impact varies considerably among patients and their families, due to the disease heterogeneity in etiology, age of onset, seizure type, responsiveness to pharmacological treatment, prognosis, and comorbidity. Despite the considerable disease variability from patient to patient, the societal costs for epilepsy are overall high, due to the fairly high frequency of epilepsy in the general population. Furthermore, epilepsy is often

In the wake of the international refugee crisis, racist attitudes are becoming more publicly evident across the European Union. Propelled by the attacks in Köln on New Year’s Eve 2015 and harsher public sentiments on immigration, vigilante gangs have emerged in various European cities. These gangs mobilize through social media networks and claim to protect citizens from alleged violent and sexual attacks by refugees. This article analyzes how racist actors use social media to mobilize and organize street politics targeting refugees/immigrants. The aim is to explore the relation between social media and anti-refugee mobilization in a time of perceived insecurity and forced migration. The study uses the vigilante network Soldiers of Odin as a specific case, looking at (1) how they communicate through social media, (2) how they are represented in the large “alternative” space of right-wing online sites, and (3) how they are represented in traditional mainstream news. Using a critical adaption of Cammaerts’ theory of “mediation opportunity structure,” the article explicates the (inverted) rationale of racist online networks. Using quantitative and qualitative content analysis, both social media content and traditional news media are examined. The results show that although racist actors succeed in utilizing many of the opportunities embedded in social media communication and protest logic, they are also subject to constraints, such as a lack of public support and negative framing in news media. The article calls for more research on the (critical) relationship between uncivil engagement and social media networks.

The aim of the present study was to determine the magnitude of the impact of treating depression to full remission on cost and health-related quality of life. In a naturalistic longitudinal survey recordings of resource use and quality of life were carried out among depressed patients treated with antidepressant therapy in 56 Swedish primary care clinics. We found that a total of 52% of the patients achieved full remission during the study period. Remitting patients had, on average, three outpatient visits less than non-remitting patients (p < 0.01), 22 fewer sick leave days (p = 0.01), which translated into a significantly lower total cost (Euro 2700) compared with non-remitting patients (p < 0.01). Health-related quality-of-life scores improved by 40% for remitting patients when compared with non-remitting ones (p < 0.01). We conclude that remission has a substantial health economic impact on patients treated for depression, which further strengthens the importance of aiming for full remission in the treatment of depression.

The cost of illness due to low back pain was substantial, but does not appear to have risen during the last 10-15 years.

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