Health status and health care costs for publicly funded patients with schizophrenia started on clozapine

Objective: The study examined the effect of clozapine treatment on the heal th care costs and health status of people with schizophrenia who are suppos ed by public funds. Methods: Thirty-three patients with schizophrenia hospi talized in a state facility were interviewed within one week of starting cl ozapine and six months later Health status was assessed with four clinical rating scales measuring severity of psychopathology, negative symptoms, dep ression, and quality of life. Cost and health care utilization data were co llected for the six months before and after initiation of clozapine. Result s: Only 52 pel cent of the subjects stayed on clozapine for six months. Sub jects who continued on clozapine were more likely to be discharged within s ix months than those who did not continue. Sir; months after clozapine was started, health care costs showed a savings of $11,464 per person, even aft er adjustment for pretreatment costs, and health status was improved. Concl usions: For subjects who continued on clozapine for six months, clozapine t reatment was associated with reduced days of psychiatric hospital care, red uced overall costs despite increased outpatient treatment and residential c osts, and improved health status.