Cost-effectiveness of first- v. second-generation antipsychotic drugs: results from a randomised controlled trial in schizophrenia responding poorly to previous therapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

There are claims that the extra costs of atypical (second-generation) antipsychotic drugs over conventional (first-generation) drugs are offset by improved health-related quality of life.

AIMS:

To determine the relative costs and value of treatment with conventional or atypical antipsychotics in people with schizophrenia.

METHOD:

Cost-effectiveness acceptability analysis integrated clinical and economic randomised controlled trial data of conventional and atypical antipsychotics in routine practice.

RESULTS:

Conventional antipsychotics had lower costs and higher quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) than atypical antipsychotics and were more than 50% likely to be cost-effective.

CONCLUSIONS:

The primary and sensitivity analyses indicated that conventional antipsychotics may be cost-saving and associated with a gain in QALYs compared with atypical antipsychotics.

• Authors: L M Davies, S Lewis, P B Jones, T R E Barnes, F Gaughran, K Hayhurst, A Markwick, H Lloyd, CUtLASS team
• Journal: The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science (Br J Psychiatry) Vol. 191 Pg. 14-22 (Jul 2007) ISSN: 0007-1250 [Print] England
• PMID: 17602120 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents

Topics

• Adult
• Antipsychotic Agents (economics, therapeutic use)
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Quality-Adjusted Life Years
• Schizophrenia (drug therapy, economics)
• Statistics as Topic
• United Kingdom