OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was a systematic literature review of cost-of-illness studies for schizophrenia in Germany. METHODS: We conducted a database search in Pubmed and PsychINFO. Cost data were inflated to the year 2007. RESULTS: We finally included 11 studies in our review which show that schizophrenia causes societal cost of several billion Euros per year. After adjustment for inflation, costs per patient and year estimated between 1980 and 2002 tended to be relatively stable at around 14,000 to 18,000 Euro. Additionally, relatives are confronted with spending of 950 to 1,700 Euro due to the patients' disorder. Indirect costs are mainly due to early retirement or unemployment and amount to 25,000 to 30,000 Euro per patient when using the human capital approach. We found that changes in treatment settings and increasing costs of drug treatment seem to be reflected in published cost-of-illness studies. CONCLUSIONS: When corrected for inflation, treatment cost per patient for schizophrenia show changes in their distribution over different cost sectors in the health care system but no substantial increases between 1980 and 2002.
