Methods of pharmacoeconomic evaluation of psychopharmacologic therapies for patients with schizophrenia.

The pharmacoeconomic evaluation of psychopharmacologic treatments for patients with schizophrenia requires attention to the clinical and quality of life effects of the therapy, as well as its impact on the use and cost of medical services. The results of pharmacoeconomic studies help clinicians and health care decision makers determine treatments that provide the most benefit to patient functioning and well-being at the most acceptable medical cost. Various research designs and methods have been used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs, including retrospective studies, prospective studies, and clinical decision analysis models. This article summarizes these research designs and their strengths and weaknesses in the evaluation of antipsychotic drugs for treating schizophrenia.