The societal costs and quality of life of patients suffering from bipolar disorder in the Netherlands.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the societal costs and quality of life of patients suffering from bipolar disorder in the Netherlands.


METHODS
Forty persons with a lifetime diagnosis of bipolar disorder (SCID/DSM-IV) and representative for the Dutch general population were interviewed to collect data on direct (use of medical resources) and indirect (productivity losses because of absence from work and reduced efficiency at work) costs of illness. Respondents' quality of life was also assessed. Prevalence (5.2%) of bipolar disorder was used to estimate total costs.


RESULTS
Total costs of bipolar disorder were estimated at US 1.83 billion dollars (total direct costs = US 454 million dollars; total indirect costs = US 1.37 billion dollars). Participants' quality-of-life scores were lower than those of the general population.


CONCLUSIONS
The societal costs form patients suffering of bipolar disorder in the Netherlands were high, especially the indirect costs because of absence from work. The quality of life of bipolar patients was lower than the general population.
Institute for Medical Technology Assessment, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. hakkaart@bmg.eur.nl
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Hoeijenbos
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D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011788:Quality of Life; D012924:Social Conditions