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Cost-effectiveness of first- v. second-generation antipsychotic drugs: results from a randomised controlled trial in
L M Davies1, S Lewis, P B Jones
1Division of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, Rawnsley Building, MRI, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK. Linda.davies@manchester.ac.uk
Background:
There are claims that the extra costs of atypical (second-generation) antipsychotic drugs over conventional (first-generation) drugs are offset by improved health-related quality of life.
Aims:
To determine the relative costs and value of treatment with conventional or atypical antipsychotics in people with schizophrenia.
Method:
Cost-effectiveness acceptability analysis integrated clinical and economic randomised controlled trial data of conventional and atypical antipsychotics in routine practice.
Results:
Conventional antipsychotics had lower costs and higher quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) than atypical antipsychotics and were more than 50% likely to be cost-effective.
Conclusions:
The primary and sensitivity analyses indicated that conventional antipsychotics may be cost-saving and associated with a gain in QALYs compared with atypical antipsychotics.
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