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Risperidone versus haloperidol: II. Cost-effectiveness
A Davies1, P C Langley, N A Keks
1Janssen-Cilag Pty. Ltd., Lane Cove, New South Wales, Australia.
Clinical Therapeutics
|April 2, 1998
Summary
Risperidone is more cost-effective for chronic schizophrenia than haloperidol, offering better outcomes at a lower price. This analysis used Australian guidelines to compare drug costs and patient responses over two years.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Health Economics
- Psychiatric Drug Evaluation
Background:
- Australia and Canada are unique among Western nations for having government guidelines on drug cost-effectiveness analysis.
- Evaluating the economic impact of treatments for chronic schizophrenia is crucial for healthcare resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct a pharmacoeconomic model comparing the cost-effectiveness of risperidone and haloperidol for chronic schizophrenia over two years.
- To assess risperidone, haloperidol, and clozapine (as a third-line option) in terms of clinical outcomes and associated costs.
Main Methods:
- Decision-analytic modeling was employed to compare clinical outcomes and costs.
- A meta-analysis informed the probabilities of patient distribution across treatment outcome pathways.
- Direct costs, including medications, healthcare services, and accommodation, were comprehensively included.
Main Results:
- Risperidone demonstrated a higher favorable outcome rate (78.9%) compared to haloperidol (58.9%) over two years.
- The total two-year treatment cost was lower for risperidone ($15,549.00) versus haloperidol ($18,332.00).
- Risperidone was found to be "dominant," offering a lower cost per favorable outcome ($19,709.00) than haloperidol ($31,104.00).
Conclusions:
- Risperidone is a more cost-effective treatment option than haloperidol for patients with chronic schizophrenia.
- The difference in clinical response rates significantly influences the cost-effectiveness of these antipsychotic medications.
- The study highlights the importance of pharmacoeconomic evaluations in guiding treatment decisions for chronic mental health conditions.