BACKGROUND: The high acquisition cost of the atypical antipsychotics has prompted their closer clinical and economic evaluation. This study aims to examine the financial implications of using atypical antipsychotics in a defined catchment area sample of @entity1 with @entity161 . METHOD: Service costs over a 10-month period were compared between groups of @entity1 fulfilling DSM-IV criteria for @entity161 who were taking different atypical antipsychotic agents. RESULTS: All @entity1 studied were taking @entity1088 (N = 31). @entity1090 (N = 19), or @entity1037 (N = 41). @entity1088 was used in more chronic @entity1 , while @entity1090 and @entity1037 were prescribed in both chronic and recently diagnosed cases. After background group differences were controlled for, @entity1 on @entity1090 treatment incurred the lowest costs. The monthly costs for the @entity1088 and @entity1037 groups were higher than for @entity1090 by US  246 and US  566, respectively. CONCLUSION: @entity1088 was reserved for more severe forms of @entity161 , but its cost impact was relatively low. @entity1090 , as prescribed in ordinary practice, may be more cost-effective than @entity1037 .

Service use and costs of treating XXXX with atypical antipsychotics.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity1088 :: ('MESH:D003024', 'Chemical') :: ['Clozapine', 'clozapine'] @entity161 :: ('MESH:D012559', 'Disease') :: ['schizophrenia'] @entity1037 :: ('MESH:C076029', 'Chemical') :: ['olanzapine'] @entity1090 :: ('MESH:D018967', 'Chemical') :: ['risperidone', 'Risperidone']
@entity161 :: (MESH:D012559,Disease) :: ['schizophrenia']
