A longitudinal analysis of the impact of social and clinical characteristics on the costs of schizophrenia treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was the longitudinal analysis of the influence of social and clinical factors on the mid-term costs of schizophrenia treatment.


METHODS
Treatment costs as well as clinical and social characteristics of 307 patients with the ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia were assessed at five follow-ups over 2.5 years. Between and within effects of clinical and social characteristics on treatment costs were estimated by error component regression models.


RESULTS
Effects caused by differences between individuals were found for age, partnership, in-patient history, objective and subjective role functioning, life-events and psychotic relapse. Effects of idiosyncratic transitory changes of social and clinical characteristics were found for symptoms, psychotic relapse, and for social role-functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment costs can be reduced to a limited extent not only by the prevention of psychotic symptoms and relapse but also by the improvement of role-functioning capacities.
Kilian
R
R
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. kilr@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Matschinger
H
H
Becker
T
T
Angermeyer
M C
MC
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome