Service use and costs of treating schizophrenia with atypical antipsychotics

Background. The high acquisition cost of the atypical antipsychotics has pr ompted their closer clinical and economic evaluation. This study aims to ex amine the financial implications of using atypical antipsychotics in a defi ned catchment. area sample of patients with schizophrenia. Method. Service costs over a 10-month period were compared between groups o f patients fulfilling DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia who were taking dif ferent atypical antipsychotic agents. Results: All patients studied were taking clozapine (N = 31), risperidone ( N = 19), or olanzapine (N = 41). Clozapine was used in more chronic patient s, while risperidone and olanzapine were prescribed in both chronic and rec ently diagnosed cases. After background group differences were controlled f or, patients on risperidone treatment incurred the lowest costs. The monthl y costs for the clozapine and olanzapine groups were higher than for risper idone by US $246 and US $566, respectively. Conclusion: Clozapine was reserved for more severe forms of schizophrenia, but its cost impact was relatively low. Risperidone, as prescribed in ordin ary practice, may be more cost-effective than olanzapine.