Cost-effectiveness analysis of case management versus a routine community care organization for patients with chronic schizophrenia.

This article reports the economic analysis of a study on the implementation of case management in the Community Psychiatric Nursing Service (CPNS) caring for chronic schizophrenic clients in Hong Kong. The purpose of the study was to compare the outcome of case management service with the conventional practice CPNS. Sixty-two subjects participated in the analysis. Cost-effectiveness analysis showed that case management costs more in Hong Kong $3,600 (US$450) per person and that over a 5-month period, case management was associated with improvements in psychological and functional outcomes and patient satisfaction. The results of this study will inform policy makers about resource allocation and policy development in the implementation of case management for the care of mentally ill clients.