Direct and indirect costs of schizophrenia in community psychiatric services in Italy. The GISIES study. Interdisciplinary Study Group on the Economic Impact of Schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
The present work is a cost-of-illness (COI) study that aims at assessing total direct and indirect costs of schizophrenic patients in community psychiatric services in Italy and identifying the variables that influence costs.


METHODS
A retrospective prevalence-based multi-centre COI study, was designed. Ten community mental health centres (CMHC) were involved and 100 patients were recruited. Data on patients' costs were gathered through specifically designed instruments.


RESULTS
More than half total direct costs were attributed to CMHC interventions. The yearly average costs of schizophrenia per patient amounted to nearly ITL 50 million: 30% for direct costs and 70% for indirect costs.


CONCLUSIONS
CMHCs tend to manage long-term ill patients by adopting a strong community-based system of care. Schizophrenia is correlated to loss of working days and lack of well-being. From the results of this study, it might be argued that the de-institutionalisation programme has produced 'spillovers' in terms of families' greater involvement in patients management.
Tarricone
R
R
CeRGAS-SDA Universitá Luigi Bocconi, Milan,Italy. rosanna.tarricone@ uni-bocconi.it
Gerzeli
S
S
Montanelli
R
R
Frattura
L
L
Percudani
M
M
Racagni
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy