Economic evaluations of novel antipsychotic medications: a literature review.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the evidence that novel antipsychotic medications offer a cost advantage compared to traditional antipsychotic medications.


METHODS
Literature for this review was identified through a computerized search of Medline, Healthstar and Psyc-INFO databases inclusive from January 1989 to January 2002. Articles included in the review were required to include cost evaluation and to be published in peer-reviewed journals.


RESULTS
Twenty-two studies met inclusion criteria. All five studies that used experimental designs found that second-generation antipsychotic medications were associated with a cost advantage or were cost-neutral, and, in some cases, improved quality of life. Of the ten studies using a pre-post design, four found an increase in total costs, six reported a decrease in total costs, and four reported increased effectiveness with use of a second-generation antipsychotic. All seven of the simulation studies reported a cost advantage for novel antipsychotics for specific patient populations under certain conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of studies found that novel antipsychotics are at least cost-neutral and may offer cost advantages compared to traditional agents. Some studies also reported greater improvement in effectiveness and quality of life when novel antipsychotics were compared to traditional antipsychotic medications. However, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions given the small sample sizes and limited study designs available in this literature.
Hudson
Teresa J
TJ
South Central VA Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Little Rock, AR, USA. HudsonTeresaJ@uams.edu
Sullivan
Greer
G
Feng
Weiwei
W
Owen
Richard R
RR
Thrush
Carol R
CR
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000191:economics*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs; D006801:Humans; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics; D012107:Research Design; D018967:Risperidone / Q000191:economics; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014481:United States
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010890:Pirenzepine; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine