Direct and indirect costs of schizophrenia in community psychiatric services in Italy - The GISIES study

Background: The present work is a cost-of-illness (COI) study that aims at assessing total direct and indirect costs of schizophrenic patients in comm unity psychiatric services in Italy and identifying the variables that infl uence costs. Methods: A retrospective prevalence-based multi-centre COI stu dy, was designed. Ten Community mental health centres (CMHC) were involved and 100 patients were recruited. Data on patients' costs were gathered thro ugh specifically designed instruments. Results: More than half total direct costs was attributed to CMHC interventions. The yearly average costs of sc hizophrenia per patient amounted to nearly ITL 50 million: 30% for direct c osts and 70% for indirect costs. Conclusion: CMHCs tend to manage long-term ill patients by adopting a strong community-based system of cart. Schizoph renia is correlated to loss of working days and lack of well-being. From th e results of this study. ii might be argued that the de-institutionalisatio n programme has produced 'spillovers' in terms of families greater involvem ent in patients management. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd. Ail righ ts reserved.