Factors that influence the cost of caring for patients with severe psychotic illness: report from the UK 700 trial.

BACKGROUND

Many factors influence the type and quantity of services received by patients and, thus, the total cost of care. Knowledge of these factors can aid budgetary and service-planning decisions.

AIMS

To investigate factors that influence the cost of caring for patients with severe psychotic illness.

METHOD

Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine associations between baseline characteristics and subsequent 2-year total direct costs in 667 patients from the UK 700 case management trial.

RESULTS

Significantly more money was spent on younger patients, those with longer duration of illness, those who had spent less time living independently and those who had spent longer in hospital for psychiatric reasons.

CONCLUSIONS

Total costs of caring for patients with severe psychotic illness appear to be influenced to a large extent by age, duration of illness and past levels of dependence on statutory services. The strength of these relationships is greater than the impact of illness severity.