Costs of Treating Schizophrenia Patients with Crises
Author Information
Author(s): Zhu Baojin, Ascher-Svanum Haya, Faries Douglas E, Peng Xiaomei, Salkever David, Slade Eric P
Primary Institution: Eli Lilly and Company
Hypothesis
Patients with recent psychosocial crises incur higher mental health treatment costs than those without such crises.
Conclusion
Recent crises, especially suicide attempts and psychiatric hospitalizations, lead to significantly higher mental health treatment costs for schizophrenia patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with a recent suicide attempt had the highest average annual treatment costs at $46,024.
- Those hospitalized in the past 6 months had average costs of $37,329.
- Patients with arrests had average costs of $31,081.
- Violent behaviors led to average costs of $18,778.
- Patients with co-occurring substance use disorder had average costs of $19,034, which was not significantly higher.
Takeaway
If someone with schizophrenia has a crisis, like trying to hurt themselves, it costs a lot more to help them than if they don't have a crisis.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from a multi-site, non-interventional study of schizophrenia patients, comparing treatment costs between those who experienced crises and those who did not.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on self-reported data for crisis events and possible underreporting of hospitalizations.
Limitations
The study relied on patient-reported measures for some crisis events, had small sample sizes for certain groups, and did not include non-psychiatric medical costs.
Participant Demographics
{"age_range":"30-50 years","gender_distribution":{"male":"60.9%","female":"39.1%"},"ethnicity":{"white":"48.9%","black":"37.8%","other":"13.2%"},"insurance_status":{"medicaid_medicare":"81.2%","veterans_affairs":"6.3%","private_insurance":"4.6%","no_insurance":"6.8%"}}
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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