Cost of treatment of schizophrenia in six European countries

Hans Joachim Salize, Rosemarie McCabe, Jens Bullenkamp, Lars Hansson, Christoph Lauber, Rafael Martinez-Leal, Iris Reinhard, Wulf Roessler, Bengt Svensson, Francisco Torres-Gonzalez, Rob van den Brink, Durk Wiersma, Stefan Priebe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background and aims: As part of an RCT in six European sites, the direct mental health care cost for 422 patients with schizophrenia was analysed according to how total and medication costs differed across sites and which variables were likely to predict total or service-specific costs. Method: Service use was recorded continuously during a 12-month follow-up. Prescribed psychotropic medication was recorded at baseline and 12 months later. Service use data were transformed into EURO, log-transformed and analysed using linear regression models. Results: Although samples were homogeneous, large inter-site cost differences were found (annual means ranging from 2958 E in Spain up to 36978 E in Switzerland). Psychopharmacologic costs were much more constant across sites than costs for other services. Total costs were associated more with region or socio-demographic characteristics than with disorder related parameters. Conclusions: The findings confirm remarkable differences in direct costs of patients with schizophrenia across Europe. However, the relative stability of medication costs suggests a need to analyse mechanisms that influence service-specific costs for schizophrenia. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)70-77
JournalSchizophrenia Research
Volume111
Issue number1-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Bibliographical note

The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Nursing (Closed 2012) (013065000)

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Psychiatry

Free keywords

  • Schizophrenia
  • Community care
  • Service utilization
  • Psychopharmacologic costs
  • Cost of care

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