Cost-effectiveness of current and optimal treatment for schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
This paper is part of a project to identify the proportion of the burden of each mental disorder averted by current and optimal interventions, and the cost-effectiveness of both.


OBJECTIVE
To use epidemiological data on schizophrenia to model the cost-effectiveness of current and optimal treatment.


METHODS
Calculate the burden of schizophrenia in the years lived with disability (YLD) component of disability-adjusted life-years lost, the proportion averted by current interventions, the proportion that could be averted by optimal treatment and the cost-effectiveness of both.


RESULTS
Current interventions avert some 13% of the burden, whereas 22% could be averted by optimal treatment. Current interventions cost about AUS 200,000 dollars per YLD averted, whereas optimal treatment at a similar cost could increase the number of YLDs averted by two-thirds. Even so, the majority of the burden of schizophrenia remains unavertable.


CONCLUSIONS
Optimal treatment is affordable within the present budget and should be implemented.
World Health Organization Collaborating Centre in Evidence for Mental Health Policy, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia. gavina@crufad.unsw.edu.au
Gavin
G
Andrews
Kristy
K
Sanderson
Justine
J
Corry
Cathy
C
Issakidis
Helen
H
Lapsley
D000368:Aged; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000379:methods; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005381:Financing, Organized / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics; D015995:Prevalence; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome