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.
Andrews
Gavin
G
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
Sanderson
Kristy
K
Corry
Justine
J
Issakidis
Cathy
C
Lapsley
Helen
H
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