The American journal of managed care
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The impact of schizophrenic patient functionality on service utilization and cost. Based on a presentation by Sandra L. Tunis, PhD.
With the advent of atypical agents in the treatment of schizophrenia, physicians and policy makers must consider the costs that may accompany greater clinical efficacy. Analyses reveal that olanzapine shows a greater clinical cost effectiveness, as well as a greater functional cost effectiveness, than haloperidol, and that functional outcomes, in particular, show promise as important measures of effectiveness. ⋯ When comparing olanzapine with haloperidol, cost savings are seen throughout the treatment period (1 year), with physical functioning most highly affected over time. Functional outcomes can therefore serve 2 purposes: to enhance compliance by improving health-related quality of life and to assist in making both treatment and formulary decisions.