title: Cost-effectiveness analysis of psychosocial intervention for early stage schizophrenia in China: a randomized, one-year study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A combination of psychosocial interventions and medications has been highly recommended as a successful treatment package for schizophrenia. Its cost-effectiveness has not been fully explored yet. The aim of the present analysis was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of antipsychotics combined with psychosocial treatment and treatment as usual for patients with early-stage schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with schizophrenia (N = 1, 268) were assigned to the combination of medication and psychosocial intervention or treatment as usual for up to 12 months. Cost analysis included direct medical costs, direct nonmedical costs and indirect costs. Quality-adjusted life year (QALY) ratings were assessed with Short- Form 6D.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average monthly psychosocial intervention costs for combined treatment were higher than treatment as usual (p = 0.005), but no significant differences were found in direct costs, indirect costs, and total costs between two groups (all p-values ≥ 0.556). Combined treatment was associated with significant higher QALY ratings than treatment as usual (p = 0.039). Compared with treatment as usual, combined treatment resulted in a gain of 0.031 QALY ratings at an additional cost of US$ 56.4, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of US$ 1819.4 per QALY gained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite some limitations, our results supported that medication combined with psychosocial treatment was more cost-effective than treatment as usual for patients with early-stage schizophrenia.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00654576.
authors: Zhanchou
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Jinguo
authors: J
authors: Zhai
authors: Qinling
authors: Q
authors: Wei
authors: Jingfeng
authors: J
authors: Qi
authors: Institute of Mental Health, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Hunan Province, National Technology Institute of Psychiatry, No, 139 Renmin Middle Road, Changsha 410011, China. xfguocsu@163.com.
authors: Xiaofeng
authors: X
authors: Guo
authors: Jingping
authors: J
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002681:China; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000191:economics; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000191:economics; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents