Diffusion and economic effects of medical technology for treating schizophrenic disorders

In a study from Norrkoping, Sweden, Persson and associates investigate three groups of patients with newly diagnosed schizophrenic disorders to observe how treatment and healthcare cost vary over time. The patients were diagnosed at different points in time: 1975 through 1977, 1981 through 1982, and 1986 through 1987. All utilizations of care services were registered, and costs were calculated for the five years that followed diagnosis. The study shows that patients with schizophrenic disorders represent a service-intensive group, hut large individual variations exist. Diagnostic and treatment methods changed substantially during the approximate 15 years of the study. Outpatient services have expanded while utilization of inpatient services has declined, most noticeably during the most recent period.