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

Objective: 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. Method: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.