[Illness related costs for spouses of patients suffering from a mental illness: results of a study with repeated measurements].
OBJECTIVE
Aim of this study is the documentation of illness-associated costs for spouses, whose relative is suffering from a mental illness.


METHODS
Over a period of 12 month, 117 spouses of patients who are suffering from schizophrenia, depression or anxiety disorders repeatedly filled in a standardized questionnaire about illness related expenses and financial losses.


RESULTS
90 % of the spouses reported direct cash expenditures on behalf of the patients' illness. On average, these costs amounted to yearly expenditures of euro 1146 (range: euro 0 - 11 910). Costs did not differ significantly across types of illness and income was not found to be a significant covariate.


CONCLUSIONS
Spouses reported substantial direct cash expenditures on behalf of the patients' illness. Since these expenditures varied to a large extent over the three points of measurement, repeated measurement designs seem to be a prerequisite for a reliable assessment of illness-associated costs. Since living together with a mentally ill partner is associated with an increased risk of developing a burden-related psychiatric illness for spouses themselves which may lead to double costs and double decreases in income, these aspects should be taken into consideration when planning changes in health policy.
Wilms
H-Ulrich
HU
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Leipzig. wilmu@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Mory
Claudia
C
Angermeyer
Matthias C
MC
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000191:economics*; D005858:Germany; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology