Effectiveness and Cost of Olanzapine and Haloperidol in the Treatment of Schizophrenia<SUBTITLE>A Randomized Controlled Trial</SUBTITLE>

TLDR

Olanzapine is widely used for schizophrenia, yet its long‑term effectiveness and cost profile have not been compared to standard antipsychotics in a controlled trial. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness and cost impact of olanzapine with haloperidol in treating schizophrenia. A double‑blind, randomized controlled trial enrolled 309 veterans, assigning them to flexibly dosed olanzapine with benztropine or haloperidol for 12 months, with outcomes including symptom severity, quality of life, cognition, adverse effects, and cost estimates from VA and societal perspectives. Results showed no significant differences in retention, symptoms, quality of life, or extrapyramidal side‑effects; olanzapine reduced akathisia and improved cognition but caused more weight gain and higher VA costs, resulting in no overall advantage over haloperidol.

Abstract

ContextAlthough olanzapine has been widely adopted as a treatment of choice for schizophrenia, its long-term effectiveness and costs have not been evaluated in a controlled trial in comparison with a standard antipsychotic drug.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness and cost impact of olanzapine compared with haloperidol in the treatment of schizophrenia.Design and SettingDouble-blind, randomized controlled trial with randomization conducted between June 1998 and June 2000 at 17 US Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.ParticipantsThree hundred nine patients with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, serious symptoms, and serious dysfunction for the previous 2 years. Fifty-nine percent fully completed and 36% partially completed follow-up assessments.InterventionsPatients were randomly assigned to receive flexibly dosed olanzapine, 5 to 20 mg/d, with prophylactic benztropine, 1 to 4 mg/d (n = 159); or haloperidol, 5 to 20 mg/d (n = 150), for 12 months.Main Outcome MeasuresStandardized measures of symptoms, quality of life, neurocognitive status, and adverse effects of medication. Veterans Affairs administrative data and interviews concerning non-VA service use were used to estimate costs from the perspective of the VA health care system and society as a whole (ie, consumption of all resources on behalf of these patients).ResultsThere were no significant differences between groups in study retention; positive, negative, or total symptoms of schizophrenia; quality of life; or extrapyramidal symptoms. Olanzapine was associated with reduced akathisia in the intention-to-treat analysis (P<.001) and with lower symptoms of tardive dyskinesia in a secondary analysis including only observations during blinded treatment with study drug. Small but significant advantages were also observed on measures of memory and motor function. Olanzapine was also associated with more frequent reports of weight gain and significantly greater VA costs, ranging from $3000 to $9000 annually. Differences in societal costs were somewhat smaller and were not significant.ConclusionOlanzapine does not demonstrate advantages compared with haloperidol (in combination with prophylactic benztropine) in compliance, symptoms, extrapyramidal symptoms, or overall quality of life, and its benefits in reducing akathisia and improving cognition must be balanced with the problems of weight gain and higher cost.