title: Cost-effectiveness of early intervention in first-episode psychosis: economic evaluation of a randomised controlled trial (the OPUS study).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information about the cost-effectiveness of early intervention programmes for first-episode psychosis is limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of an intensive early-intervention programme (called OPUS) (trial registration NCT00157313) consisting of enriched assertive community treatment, psychoeducational family treatment and social skills training for individuals with first-episode psychosis compared with standard treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  An incremental cost-effectiveness analysis of a randomised controlled trial, adopting a public sector perspective was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean total costs of OPUS over 5 years (€123,683, s.e. = 8970) were not significantly different from that of standard treatment (€148,751, s.e. = 13073). At 2-year follow-up the mean Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score in the OPUS group (55.16, s.d. = 15.15) was significantly higher than in standard treatment group (51.13, s.d. = 15.92). However, the mean GAF did not differ significantly between the groups at 5-year follow-up (55.35 (s.d. = 18.28) and 54.16 (s.d. = 18.41), respectively). Cost-effectiveness planes based on non-parametric bootstrapping showed that OPUS was less costly and more effective in 70% of the replications. For a willingness-to-pay up to €50,000 the probability that OPUS was cost-effective was more than 80%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incremental cost-effectiveness analysis showed that there was a high probability of OPUS being cost-effective compared with standard treatment.
authors.affiliation: Region Zealand, Psychiatric Research Unit, Roskilde, Denmark. lhhs@regionsjaelland.dk
authors.forename: Lene Halling
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Hastrup
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kronborg
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertelsen
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jeppesen
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
authors.forename: Lone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thorup
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simonsen
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nordentoft
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003718:Denmark; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000191:economics; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000191:economics*; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000191:economics; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000191:economics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012951:Socialization; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents