MEASURING PATIENT BENEFIT IN MENTAL-ILLNESS

This paper provides a brief overview of issues to consider in evaluati ng patient benefit from health care. Different types of measures are d escribed and it is noted that the choice of measure is dependent upon the purpose of the study. The cost-utility approach to evaluation is d iscussed in more detail. This approach is often criticised but it rais es important issues in medical decision-making and has considerable po tential in the evaluation of patient benefit from health care.