The Nottingham study of neurotic disorder: predictors of 12 year costs.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between clinical, demographic and socio-economic characteristics and the long-term costs of a cohort of neurotic patients.


METHODS
Analysis of the costs of a cohort of 210 people entered in the Nottingham study of neurotic disorders, a randomized controlled evaluation of five treatments for neurotic disorders. Service use data were collected at 5 and 12 years after study entry. Multiple regression analyses were conducted.


RESULTS
The total cost per patient over the 12-year follow-up period was calculated to be $11,940 (SD $15,520) ( pound7450, SD pound9690). Higher costs were significantly associated with the presence of general neurotic syndrome, an initial diagnosis of dysthymia and a recurrent episode of illness.


CONCLUSIONS
The total costs of care for a range of neurotic disorders are broadly comparable with other estimates of costs reported in the literature for similar populations. Those responsible for higher costs in the longer-term have comorbid anxiety, depressive and personality disorders.
Knerer
G
G
Department of Mental Health Sciences, Royal Free and University College School of Medicine, London, UK. g.knerer@medsch.ucl.ac.uk
Byford
S
S
Johnson
T
T
Seivewright
H
H
Tyrer
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors