Cost-utility analysis in schizophrenia

Estimation of quality of life is important to the study of the pharmacoecon omics of schizophrenia The subject has gained popularity among policymakers , clinicians, and patients and their families, since the advent of new anti psychotic medications that are more expensive than older drugs yet have bee n shown to cause fewer side effects. Quantifying quality of life has been d ifficult. since studies often inconsistently define the concept or use rati ng scales that are inappropriate fur the patient population. Utility analys is is a procedure that calculates subjects' preferences regarding living wi th various health states, given such options as trading more years of life at a lowered health state fur dying sooner but having a strong health state during the last years of life. The feasibility of performing utility analy sis among patients with schizophrenia was recently examined in a study carr ied out by the authors. This article reflects initial observations from tha t study of utility analysis and includes a discussion of problems still fac ing the study of quality of life and utility analysis.