Schizophrenia generates a great deal of cost and burden. The aim of this st
udy was to assess the direct costs for schizophrenia patients receiving sta
ndard treatment in different settings in Belgium. Costs were calculated for
patients and for the Belgian insurance system. Data from Belgium's largest
sickness fund were used to estimate health expenditures for all schizophre
nia patients in Belgium. The mean direct treatment cost was $12,050 per pat
ient per year, or $304 million for all schizophrenia patients per year. Thi
s cost constitutes 1.9 percent of the Belgian Government's total health exp
enditure. Government expenditure per schizophrenia patient is 10 times that
of an average citizen.