The objective was to estimate the annual per patient cost of care for individuals with bipolar disorder in a large population and evaluate trends in cost over a three-year period beginning in 1995. Direct costs of care were examined for bipolar disorder in an employer claims database (LifeLinkTM) representing approximately 1.6 million covered lives. Estimated costs of care included expenditures for hospitalization, hospital outpatient services, outpatient medications, psychiatric day/night facilities, nursing home facilities, office visits, ER visits, laboratory tests, substance abuse treatment, and other services. Costs were inflation-adjusted to 1997 dollars. The prevalence of bipolar disorder in the population was 5.5 patients per 1000 eligible members. These patients incurred significant annual expenditures, totaling $13,402 in 1995, $11,856 in 1996, and $11,146 in 1997. These expenditures were comparable to treatment costs for schizophrenia in the same population during this period. Annual costs for mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications increased by $168 (42%) over the study interval, totaling $565 in 1997. However, other costs of care for these patients decreased by $2,424 during the same period; more than 80 percent ($2,007) of this decline was accounted for by costs incurred for services directly associated with receipt of a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Treatment of bipolar disorder imposes a significant economic burden to the health care system. The increasing availability and use of novel and more expensive mood stabilizing and antipsychotic medications for treatment of bipolar disorder does not appear to have resulted in an increase in the total costs of the disease.
Learning Objectives: Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the burden-of-illness for patients suffering from bipolar affective disorder
Keywords: Cost Issues, Mental Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, without mention of specific brand names, will be discussed
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employement