Cost-effectiveness of different clinical interventions for reducing the burden of schizophrenia in Spain.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the cost-effectiveness of interventions for reducing the burden of schizophrenia in Spain.


METHODS
The study examined the cost-effectiveness of seven different types of clinical interventions at the level of Spanish population: i) current situation; ii) older antipsychotics alone; iii) new antipsychotics alone (risperidone); iv) older antipsychotics plus psychosocial treatment; v) new antipsychotics plus psychosocial treatment; vi) older antipsychotics plus case management and psychosocial treatment; vii) new antipsychotics plus case management and psychosocial treatment.


RESULTS
Interventions based on the combination of haloperidol with psychosocial treatment or psychosocial treatment plus case management proved to be the most efficient strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
The relatively modest additional cost of concurrent psychosocial treatment has significant health gains, thereby making such a combined strategy for schizophrenia more cost-effective than pharmacology alone.
Gutierrez-Recacha
P
P
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Autónoma University, Madrid, Spain.
Chisholm
D
D
Haro
J M
JM
Salvador-Carulla
L
L
Ayuso-Mateos
J L
JL
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011584:Psychology; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents