Cost-effectiveness of clozapine therapy for severe psychosis.
The cost-effectiveness of using the atypical antipsychotic medication clozapine for severe psychosis was examined in a rural public-sector community mental health setting in Virginia. Based on a sample of 20 patients, use of clozapine resulted in estimated cost savings of between $3,000 and $9,000 per patient per year, including the costs of dropouts from treatment. Savings were mainly due to a decline in hospitalization from 47.7+/-59.8 days per patient in the year before clozapine treatment to 4.6+/-11.3 days in the year after. Although this study had methodological limitations, the results suggest that clozapine may be cost-effective in this setting.
Ghaemi
S N
SN
Center on Neuroscience, Medical Progress, and Society of George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
Ziegler
D M
DM
Peachey
T J
TJ
Goodwin
F K
FK
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D017150:Public Sector / Q000191:economics; D014768:Virginia
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine