schizophrenia news in brief …

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Page 1: Schizophrenia news in brief …

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Schizophrenia news in brief ...

• Measurement of outcomes and costs in thetreatment of schizophrenia needs to be careful andcomprehensive, say UK-based researchers. Theybelieve that outcomes research must be conductedwith an understanding of the trade-offs between thedifferent dimensions of a patient's well-being andbetween the outcomes of different healthcare players.There also needs to be an understanding of thetrade-offs in costs between different societal players,particularly when the services are provided bydifferent funding agencies. Furthermore, trade-offsin the budgetary responsibilities of differentschizophrenia support services must be clearlyidentified and quantified. They conclude that linksbetween costs and outcomes in schizophrenia needto be made explicit in economic studies if suchtrade-offs are to be successfully achieved.

Knapp M, et al. Economic outcomes and costs in the treatment ofschizophrenia Clinical1berapeutics 19: 128-138, Jan-Feb 1997 800>23185

• Risperidone is associated with improvementsin psychotic symptoms and quality of life, and witha reduced need for hospitalisation in patients withschizophrenia, compared with cheaper but lesseffective conventional antipsychotics. Dr StephenAronson from the University of Michigan MedicalSchool in Ann Arbor, US, made this comment basedon the results of several economic studies ofrisperidone use.* The lack of integration of health­care services in many countries means that thecomponents of healthcare are often assumed to beseparate, unrelated entities. Available economicstudies of risperidone challenge this assumption,comments Dr Aronson. He points out that it can bemisleading to judge healthcare costs on the basis ofantipsychotic acquisition costs alone.* see PharmacoResources 38: 8-10, 7 Oct 1995; 800314692and PharmacoResources 3: 8, 16Apr 1994; 800293398

Aronson SM. Cost-effectiveness and quality of life in psychosis: thepharmacoeconomics ofrisperidone. Clinical Therapeutics 19: 139-147,Jan-Feb 1997 """23186

PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 12 Apr 1997 No. 107 1173-5503197/0107-0006/$01.00"Adl81nlern8tional Limited 1997. All right8 reserved