Analytical approach:
The analysis was based on a decision tree, with a two-year horizon. The authors stated that the perspective of the health care system was adopted.
Effectiveness data:
The clinical data were derived from a Delphi panel of 17 senior psychiatrists in China. Two surveys were carried out and only minor fluctuations in the parameter values were observed with the second survey. The key clinical endpoint was the efficacy, which was defined as the proportion of successfully treated patients, who were those who responded to the initial treatment, had no more than two episodes of clinical deterioration, and did not need a change of treatment over the two years. The rate of extrapyramidal side-effects was another key data input.
Monetary benefit and utility valuations:
Not included.
Measure of benefit:
The summary benefit measure was the proportion of patients successfully treated (efficacy).
Cost data:
The economic analysis included out-patient visits, emergency treatment, emergency observation, hospital day care, and hospitalisations. The resource use data were from the Delphi panel and the unit costs were from official country-specific sources. The price year was 2007 and a 3% annual discount rate was applied. All costs were in Chinese yuan (CNY).
Analysis of uncertainty:
A deterministic sensitivity analysis was undertaken on two inputs, the price of long-acting risperidone and the discount rate.