Health resource utilization associated with switching to risperidone long-acting injection.

OBJECTIVE

Studies have shown oral risperidone and conventional depot antipsychotics decrease direct healthcare costs largely by reducing hospitalization. Our aim was to assess the effect on bed stay of risperidone injection prescribed in normal clinical practice.

METHOD

Patients prescribed risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) were identified and followed-up for 1 year. Resource use data were collected for 3 years before and for 1 year after the initiation of RLAI. The main outcome measure was bed stay before and after the prescription of RLAI.

RESULTS

Outcome data were available for 250 subjects. Eighty-one subjects (32.4%) completed 1 year's treatment. Days spent in hospital increased from (mean number/patient) 31 in year -3 to 44 in year -2 to 90 in year -1 to 141 in year +1. Direct healthcare costs increased accordingly. Outcome for RLAI continuers was similar to that of discontinuers.

CONCLUSION

Switching to RLAI was associated with a continuation of the trend for increased bed stay and use of healthcare resources.