ECONOMIC OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF RISPERIDONE IN A NATURALISTIC GROUP-PRACTICE SETTING

The purpose of this cohort pilot study was to compare the resource uti lization and economic outcomes associated with the use of risperidone versus haloperidol in a naturalistic setting. Patient charts from a la rge psychiatric group practice were reviewed, and hospital billing dat a were obtained. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were placed i nto one of two cohorts depending on their medication history. Thirty p atients treated with risperidone met the selection criteria, and a ran dom quota sampling technique was used to allow for a matched control c ohort of 30 patients treated with haloperidol. In the haloperidol and risperidone cohorts, 24 and 28 patients, respectively, were evaluated statistically. Mean utilization rates and costs per patient per month for each service were estimated by using regression analysis. Patients in the risperidone cohort had significantly fewer hospitalizations th an did those in the haloperidol cohort (P = 0.004). Likewise, risperid one patients had significantly lower hospitalization costs than halope ridol patients (P = 0.005). Conversely, patients treated with risperid one visited the physician more frequently than did those treated with haloperidol (P = 0.0005). Estimated mean total monthly costs were $123 .34 lower (95% confidence interval = -$464, $217) per patient in the r isperidone cohort than in the haloperidol cohort ($1,636.11 vs $1759.4 5; P = 0.4693). Significant reductions in hospital costs in the risper idone cohort offset higher medication and physician costs. Overall, to tal monthly costs were similar for the two cohorts.