Cost-effectiveness of current and optimal treatment for schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND This paper is part of a project to identify the proportion of the burden of each mental disorder averted by current and optimal interventions, and the cost-effectiveness of both. AIMS To use epidemiological data on schizophrenia to model the cost-effectiveness of current and optimal treatment. METHOD Calculate the burden of schizophrenia in the years lived with disability (YLD) component of disability-adjusted life-years lost, the proportion averted by current interventions, the proportion that could be averted by optimal treatment and the cost-effectiveness of both. RESULTS Current interventions avert some 13% of the burden, whereas 22% could be averted by optimal treatment. Current interventions cost about AUS 200,000 dollars per YLD averted, whereas optimal treatment at a similar cost could increase the number of YLDs averted by two-thirds. Even so, the majority of the burden of schizophrenia remains unavertable. CONCLUSIONS Optimal treatment is affordable within the present budget and should be implemented.