Health economic measures in schizophrenia research.
BACKGROUND
It is essential in economic evaluations of schizophrenia interventions that all relevant costs are identified and measured appropriately. Also of importance is the way in which cost data are combined with information on outcomes.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the use of health economics in evaluations of interventions for schizophrenia.


METHODS
A review of the key methods used to estimate costs and to linkcosts and outcomes was conducted.


RESULTS
Costs fall on a number of different agencies and can be short term or long term. Cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-utility analysis are the most appropriate methods for combing cost and outcome data.


CONCLUSIONS
Schizophrenia poses a number of challenges for economic evaluation.
McCrone
Paul
P
Department of Health Service and Population Research, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, UK. p.mccrone@iop.kcl.ac.uk
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents