Risk stratification for treating people at ultra-high risk for psychosis: a cost-effectiveness analysis

Olajumoke M. Ologundudu, Lena Palaniyappan, Lauren E. Cipriano, Ben F. M. Wijnen, Kelly K. Anderson, Shehzad Ali*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    People who are at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis receive clinical care with the aim to prevent first-episode psychosis (FEP), regardless of the risk of conversion to psychosis. An economic model from the Canadian health system perspective was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of treating all with UHR compared to risk stratification over a 15-year time horizon, based on conversion probability, expected quality-of-life and costs. The analysis used a decision tree followed by a Markov model. Health states included: Not UHR, UHR with <20 % risk of conversion to FEP (based on the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study risk calculator), UHR with ≥20 % risk, FEP, Remission, Post-FEP, and Death. The analysis found that: risk stratification (i.e., only treating those with ≥20 % risk) had lower costs ($1398) and quality-adjusted life-years (0.055 QALYs) per person compared to treating all. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for ‘treat all’ was $25,448/QALY, and suggests treating all may be cost-effective. The model was sensitive to changes to the probability of conversion.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)225-233
    Number of pages9
    JournalSchizophrenia Research
    Volume261
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Nov 2023

    Keywords

    • cost-benefit analysis
    • costs and cost analysis
    • health care costs
    • prodromal symptoms
    • psychotic disorders
    • quality-adjusted life years
    • schizophrenia

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