Cost-effectiveness of first- v. second-generation antipsychotic drugs: results from a randomised controlled trial in schizophrenia responding poorly to previous therapy.
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.
Davies
L M
LM
Division of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, Rawnsley Building, MRI, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK. Linda.davies@manchester.ac.uk
Lewis
S
S
Jones
P B
PB
Barnes
T R E
TR
Gaughran
F
F
Hayhurst
K
K
Markwick
A
A
Lloyd
H
H
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
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents