The cost of relapse in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder

The aim of this study was to quantify the costs and resource utilization associated with a relapse of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

The study comprised a retrospective audit of data from 200 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were admitted to hospital for a relapse of their disorder in two mental health services in Australia between 1 June 2001 and 31 May 2002. Resource use and costing data were collected for 12 months before and 12 months after the hospitalization.

There was an increase in contacts per month and associated outpatient costs after the index admission which persisted for the full 12 month data collection period (total of AUD $637). There was also a total increase in hospital costs but this did not persist beyond the first 2 months of the follow-up period and is likely explained by the index admission.

Increased healthcare resource utilization and costs results from relapse in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. An increase in service use and costs persist for a considerable time period after an episode of relapse.