The cost of schizophrenia has been estimated at $11.6 to $19.5 billion
annually. About two-thirds of this cost is due to lack of productivity by
schizophrenic patients and about one-fifth to treatment costs. The estimate
might be considerably higher if better figures were available on the cost
of maintaining patients in the community. In the absence of more effective
treatment, the savings from the current trend toward shorter
hospitalization cannot be expected to decrease-and may actually
increase-the overall costs of schizophrenia to society. The authors make
recommendations aimed at reducing the cost by helping schizophrenic
patients to be more productive through a system of community
alternative-care facilities, increased rehabilitation services, aftercare,
and research.Abstract Teaser