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The Prevalence and Costs of Psychiatric Disorders and Learning Disabilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Kirsteen Smith ,
Ajit Shah ,
Ken Wright  and
Glyn Lewis
Kirsteen Smith*
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Economics, University of York
Ajit Shah
Affiliation:
John Conelly Wing, Ealing Hospital
Ken Wright
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Economics
Glyn Lewis
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London and Department of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
*
K. Smith, Centre for Health Economics, University of York, York Y01 5DD
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Abstract

Background

The economic burden of psychiatric disorders and learning disability is assessed in order to aid decisions on priorities for research funding.

Method

A wide variety of data sources both on prevalence and on the usage and costs of relevant services were used to measure the economic burden of each condition.

Results

Despite methodological problems and problems with the data, an attempt is made to estimate the relative economic burden imposed by each condition. No attempt is made to sum up the costs for each condition across the agencies and individuals involved.

Conclusions

Our findings show that learning disability, schizophrenia and neurotic conditions (including depression) are major burdens on the National Health Service; senile dementia and depression in older people impact largely on local authority social services. Senile dementia, schizophrenia and learning disability are also heavy charges on the social security system. It is also notable that the large numbers with less severely disabling neurotic disorders generate a burden that, according to our figures, is comparable to schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

Type
Review Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 166 , Issue 1 , January 1995 , pp. 9 - 18
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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