The effect of alcohol consumption on cost of care in severe psychotic illness: a report from the UK700 study.

Objective: Alcohol misuse in psychotic patients is common and leads to poor treatment outcome. This study examines the relationship between alcohol consumption and cost of care in patients with a severe psychotic illness.
Method: Patient care was evaluated over 2 years for 708 patients. Patient reported alcohol consumption was evaluated at initial interview. The outcome measure was cost of care over 2 years.
Results: There was no difference in mean cost of care between non-drinkers, moderate and heavy drinkers. Increased alcohol consumption (measured as a continuous variable, adjusted for baseline characteristics) was associated with lower cost of care.
Conclusion: Heavier alcohol consumers did not incur more treatment costs and may, indeed, cost less than other patients. This may reflect higher levels of drinking being associated with better overall functioning, poorer engagement with services or exclusion from services.
(Copyright Blackwell Munksgaard 2002.)