[Socio-economic costs of mental health in the Canary Islands, Spain, in 2002].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the economic impact in terms of direct and indirect costs of the mental health in Canary Islands (Spain) in 2002.


METHODS
The cost-of-illness method was used. Direct and indirect costs were estimated using prevalence cost, i.e., the costs produced in 2002. The human capital theory approach has been used.


METHODS
Canary Islands, Spain, including primary health care and inpatient care.


METHODS
Mental health patients.


METHODS
Direct health costs (inpatients, ambulatory care, primary health care, and drugs). Indirect costs (premature death, short-term illness, and permanent disability).


RESULTS
The total costs of mental health were 189.59 million euros. The direct health costs were 81.67 million euros, constituting 43% of the total costs and 5.2% of the total public health care budget in this region. The indirect costs of mental health were 107.92 million euros, representing 57% of the total costs.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this study adopts a conservative approach, the high socio-economic cost of the mental health helps us to define better the dimension of the problem to establish priorities besides opening a way towards cost-effectiveness studies that allow a more transparent debate on this topic.
López-Bastida
J
J
Servicio de Evaluación y Planificación, Servicio Canario de Salud, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. jlopbas@goviernodecanarias.org
Serrano-Aguilar
P
P
Duque-González
B
B
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001266:Atlantic Islands; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain