title: Cost-effectiveness of first- v. second-generation antipsychotic drugs: results from a randomised controlled trial in schizophrenia responding poorly to previous therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are claims that the extra costs of atypical (second-generation) antipsychotic drugs over conventional (first-generation) drugs are offset by improved health-related quality of life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relative costs and value of treatment with conventional or atypical antipsychotics in people with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cost-effectiveness acceptability analysis integrated clinical and economic randomised controlled trial data of conventional and atypical antipsychotics in routine practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Conventional antipsychotics had lower costs and higher quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) than atypical antipsychotics and were more than 50% likely to be cost-effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The primary and sensitivity analyses indicated that conventional antipsychotics may be cost-saving and associated with a gain in QALYs compared with atypical antipsychotics.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, Rawnsley Building, MRI, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK. Linda.davies@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: T R E
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gaughran
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayhurst
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markwick
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lloyd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents