PREFERENCES FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA-RELATED HEALTH STATES - A COMPARISON OFPATIENTS, CAREGIVERS AND PSYCHIATRISTS

Health state preferences are important for evaluating the outcomes of medical treatment. This study examined preferences of patients for sch izophrenia-related health states and compares patient preferences with those of caregivers and psychiatrists. Health-state descriptions were developed for five different outcomes likely to be experienced by sch izophrenic patients. Forty-nine schizophrenic patients and their prima ry caregiver assigned preferences to the hypothetical states and the p atient's current state using categorical rating scales and paired comp arisons; physicians rated the states using the standard gamble and cat egorical rating scale. Mean standard gamble utilities for the patient' s current health were 0.75, and ranged from 0.56 for the inpatient sta te to 0.83 for excellent function, outpatient. Mean categorical rating scale preferences for the patient's current health state were 0.67 fo r patients, 0.66 for caregivers and 0.66 for clinicians. Patient prefe rences were comparable with clinician and caregiver preferences for hy pothetical health states. Patient preferences were correlated with cli nician and caregiver preferences for current health. It was concluded that schizophrenic patients are able to complete categorical rating sc ales and paired comparisons, and patient preferences are associated wi th clinician and caregiver preferences.