Is phase-specific, community-oriented treatment of early psychosis an economically viable method of improving outcome?

OBJECTIVE The Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) provides a comprehensive 'real-world' model of early intervention to young people experiencing an emerging psychotic disorder. A prospective study has already provided evidence of improved clinical outcome at 12 months after entry. The present study examined whether the service was also cost-effective. METHOD A cost-effectiveness analysis compared EPPIC with its immediate precursor service, from the perspective of the government funding agency. Only direct costs were included. RESULTS EPPIC proved to be more cost-effective. The weighted average cost per patient for the first 12 months was cheaper (by $AUD 7110 per patient), while treatment outcomes were superior. The savings were due to the marked reduction in in-patient costs outweighing substantial increases in the costs of community care. CONCLUSION These results, while encouraging in terms of the further development of integrated, phase-specific intervention programmes for early psychosis, are not conclusive, and further research is required.