A longitudinal analysis of the impact of social and clinical characteristics on the costs of schizophrenia treatment.

Abstract

The aim of the study was the longitudinal analysis of the influence of social and clinical factors on the mid-term costs of schizophrenia treatment. Treatment costs as well as clinical and social characteristics of 307 patients with the ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia were assessed at five follow-ups over 2.5 years. Between and within effects of clinical and social characteristics on treatment costs were estimated by error component regression models. Effects caused by differences between individuals were found for age, partnership, in-patient history, objective and subjective role functioning, life-events and psychotic relapse. Effects of idiosyncratic transitory changes of social and clinical characteristics were found for symptoms, psychotic relapse, and for social role-functioning. Treatment costs can be reduced to a limited extent not only by the prevention of psychotic symptoms and relapse but also by the improvement of role-functioning capacities.