Schizophrenia is a common serious mental illness.
It is estimated that one person in every 100 worldwide will develop schizophrenia by the age of 45, with men and women equally at risk2. Studies directly comparing the cost effectiveness between the new schizophrenia treatments are vital to justify modern prescribing decisions. Patients treated with Risperdal were also discharged sooner than patients being treated with olanzapine. Medical professionals want the best possible outcomes for patients, but in today's increasingly cost constrained health environment, doctors have to justify their prescribing decisions. Country by country population statistics can be obtained from the United Nations Population Division.