Use of healthcare services by patients treated with risperidone versus conventional antipsychotic agents.

Objective: To determine whether the use of risperidone in a US managed-care environment is associated with a reduction in the use of mental healthcare services.

Methods: Mental health service use and costs for patients with psychoses treated with risperidone versus those treated with conventional antipsychotic agents were compared by both between-group and within-group comparisons. The study controlled for differences between the groups. Only direct medical costs were considered. All costs were for the years 1994 to 1996.

Perspective: US managed care plan.

Results: Costs (excluding antipsychotic drug costs) per member per month (PMPM) were 180 US dollars lower with risperidone (p < 0.05); per member per year (PMPY) costs were 2160 US dollars lower. In patients who received both risperidone and conventional treatments, PMPM costs were 212 US dollars (2544 US dollars PMPY) lower during risperidone treatment. Total costs (including antipsychotic drug costs) were 624 US dollars PMPY lower with risperidone by between-group comparisons and 1008 US dollars PMPY lower by within-group comparisons.

Conclusions: These results show that higher risperidone acquisition costs are offset by reductions in other mental healthcare costs, particularly inpatient hospitalisation costs. This indicates that risperidone may be a more economical choice than traditional antipsychotics for the treatment of psychoses.