The effect of previous psychiatric history on the cost of care: a comparison of various regression models.
OBJECTIVE
Many studies conducted in Europe have reported high variance of costs estimated at the individual level. The objectives of the present study were to estimate costs of patients and to evaluate the performance of various regression models.


METHODS
All patients who in the period 1992-1995 had at least one contact with the psychiatric services in South Verona were included in the study and were followed for 1 year after the index contact (n = 1725). Four different groups, classified on the basis of their previous services utilization, were analysed.


RESULTS
First-ever patients and patients with a new episode of care after 3 years were less costly than patients with an ongoing episode of care and patients having a new episode, after an interval between 3 months and 3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The regression models allow us to predict cost for a patient with a given set of characteristics. Great care in the interpretation of the values of the individual coefficients should be taken in order to have a broader understanding of the expenditure dynamic.
Mirandola
M
M
Department of Medicine and Public Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. mmi@crrps.org
Amaddeo
F
F
Dunn
G
G
Tansella
M
M
D005060:Europe; D005544:Forecasting; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018803:Models, Economic; D012042:Registries; D012044:Regression Analysis