title: Economic evaluation of antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia treatment within the Brazilian Healthcare System.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the cost-utility of first and second-generation antipsychotics for treatment of schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A five-year Markov model was constructed based on a survey of the records of patients seen in 2006 at a psychosocial care center in the municipality of Florianopolis, Southern Brazil. Costs were evaluated from the perspective of the Sistema Unico de Saúde (SUS - Unified Healthcare System). Utility was measured in quality-adjusted life years obtained in the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Markov model indicated risperidone and haloperidol utilization before olanzapine as the most cost-effective alternatives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antipsychotic agents haloperidol and risperidone are more cost-effective than olanzapine. Strategies prioritizing the use of antipsychotics with better cost-effectiveness could optimize resource allocation without necessarily compromising the health of patients treated through the Sistema Unico de Saúde.
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), 88040-970 Florianópolis, SC, Brasil.
authors: Leandro Mendonça
authors: LM
authors: Lindner
authors: Antonio Carlos
authors: AC
authors: Marasciulo
authors: Mareni Rocha
authors: MR
authors: Farias
authors: Geder Evandro Motta
authors: GE
authors: Grohs
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008390:Markov Chains; D055118:Medication Adherence; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011788:Quality of Life; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012008:Recurrence; D018967:Risperidone / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine