Cost analysis of the treatment of schizophrenia in Thailand: a simulation model comparing olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone and haloperidol.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the annual costs of treating schizophrenia with four atypical antipsychotics-olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine and ziprasidone and one typical antipsychotic: haloperidol in Thailand


METHODS
The present study used a cost analysis model. The model simulated treatment of schizophrenics for 12 months with the data from international literature review. A comprehensive search of pharmacoeconomic literature was carried out in order to identify studies to be included in the present review. Model parameter used data from the searches of 1175 publications but merely 31 of them were relevant to the objectives of the present study. Costs associated with olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone and haloperidol therapy were calculated over a period of 12-months. This analysis included health care costs and costs associated with productivity losses.


RESULTS
The total cost from the cost analysis was as follows: Haloperidol gives the lowest annual cost of THB 86,004, within the atypical antipsychotics, Olanzapine produces an annual cost of THB 103,225 compared to THB 104,564 with risperidone, 118,314 with ziprazidone. The cost ranges up to THB 146,526 for quetiapine therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with olanzapine appears to be more cost-effective than that with the other atypical antipsychotics in Thai schizophrenic patients.
Kongsakon
Ronnachai
R
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. rarks@mahidol.com
Leelahanaj
Thawatchai
T
Price
Natalia
N
Birinyi-Strachan
Liesl
L
Davey
Peter
P
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016527:Drug Costs; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D017059:Models, Econometric; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010879:Piperazines / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D018967:Risperidone / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D013785:Thailand; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D010879:Piperazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; C092292:ziprasidone; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine