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Subjective utility ratings of neuroleptics in treating schizophrenia*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Stephen E. Finn ,
J. Michael Bailey ,
Robert T. Schultz  and
Raymond Faber
Stephen E. Finn*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin; Department of Psychology, Northwestern University; and the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas, USA
J. Michael Bailey
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin; Department of Psychology, Northwestern University; and the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas, USA
Robert T. Schultz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin; Department of Psychology, Northwestern University; and the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas, USA
Raymond Faber
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin; Department of Psychology, Northwestern University; and the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital and University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas, USA
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Stephen E. Finn, Mezes Hall 330, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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Synopsis

This study developed a method for measuring subjective costs and benefits of psychiatric treatments. Forty-one patients rated the relative bothersomeness of symptoms of schizophrenia and side effects of neuroleptics. Thirty-four psychiatrists made parallel ratings from the perspective of the average patient (individual utility) and of the patient's family and society (institutional utility). Psychiatrists predicted patients' ratings moderately well, but misjudged the bothersomeness to patients of 24% of side effects and 20% of symptoms. When considering the patient's perspective, both schizophrenic patients and psychiatrists rated symptoms as no more bothersome than side effects. However, psychiatrists saw side effects as significantly less bothersome than symptoms when considering costs to society. The subjective utility of neuroleptic medications for schizophrenia is most justifiable from an institutional perspective.

Type
Orginal Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 20 , Issue 4 , November 1990 , pp. 843 - 848
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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Footnotes

*

Parts of this paper were presented at the meeting of the Society of Biological Psychiatry, 7 13 May 1988, Montreal, Canada.

References

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