Clinical comparability of schizophrenia patients at two public mental health systems.
Differences between public mental health delivery systems do not permit generalizing most research findings from one service system to another. Under certain circumstances, generalizing psychopharmacological research findings may be feasible when patients served at these health care systems share a similar illness severity profile. This study compared the illness severity of schizophrenia patients served at the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VA) with that for Non-VA Medicaid patients served at state facilities. Findings demonstrate remarkable clinical comparability and suggest the potential for generalizing psychopharmacological research findings from one health care delivery system to the other, after adjustments for relevant background characteristics.
Ascher-Svanum
Haya
H
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. haya@lilly.com
Zhu
Baojin
B
Stensland
Michael D
MD
Sterling
Kimberly
K
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006783:Hospitals, State / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000145:classification* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States