title: Modelling the impact of clozapine on suicide in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia in the UK.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Schizophrenia is a major cause of suicide, and symptoms characteristic of treatment-resistant disease are strong risk factors. Clozapine reduces symptoms in 60% of such patients and significantly decreases the risk of suicide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To model the impact of increased clozapine prescribing on lives saved and resource utilisation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A model was built to compare current levels of clozapine prescribing with a scenario in which all suitable patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia received clozapine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was estimated that an average of 53 lives could be saved in the UK each year. If clozapine is cost-neutral, the cost per life-year saved is pound 5108. If clozapine achieves a 10% reduction in annual support costs, the net saving is pound 8.7 million per annum. An average of 167 acute beds would be freed each year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of clozapine in treatment-resistant schizophrenia saves lives, frees resources and is cost-effective.
authors.affiliation: Abacus International, Bicester, UK.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duggan
authors.forename: Juliet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kerwin
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000191:economics; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine