Susan L. McElroy

The costs of treatment of bipolar disorder

From the studies reviewed above, a number of aspects regarding the economic impact of bipolar disorder are clear. First, the cost of this illness in disability and human suffering is profound. Second, the economic cost of the illness far outweighs the costs of treatment. Third, cost savings may differ among the available mood-stabilizing medications, depending on clinical and pharmacological variables. Fourth, the costs of hospitalization contribute the single greatest share of treatment costs, greatly outweighing the costs of drug acquisition. Thus, decisions regarding the inclusion of medications for patients with bipolar disorder on formularies require consideration of the impact of successful treatment on preventing morbidity and mortality, enhancing productivity and preventing hospitalization (Keck et al. 1998b).