Economic Burden Of Mental Disorders And Expenses Of Various Treatment Forms

The aim of this paper is to present an ongoing research project „Paradigm Change of Mental Health and Well-being in Lithuania: Towards Empirically Valid Model” (2015-2017) and part of its results (research project is granted by Research Council of Lithuania). This project is aimed to contribute to the paradigmatic change by scientific research and evaluation of efficacy of pharmaceutic and psychotherapeutic treatment to psychological and social functioning, and to estimate economic burden of treatment and mental diseases that society must pay. It is interdisciplinary research project is implemented by group of researchers, including representatives of psychology, psychiatry, sociology and economy. It consists of six goals each accomplished by using different research methods (quantitative, qualitative) and data sources (data bases of medical and social services providers, documents, mental health care experts and service users). In this paper, we will present in more detail goal nr.1 - comparison of economic burden of mental illness and expenses of various treatment forms. Data for this part of research was gathered from databases of Institute of Hygiene, National Health Insurance Fund, State Social Insurance Fund Board, Lithuanian Labour Exchange, Municipality, and Ministry of the Interior. Data representing years 2012 and 2014 from above mentioned databases were gathered concerning people who received treatment of mental disorders in 2013 in various departments of two mental health institutions where different treatment methods are used. Data analysis accomplished by comparing pre-treatment data (year 2012), post treatment data (year 2014), costs of treatment (year 2013). As data gathering and analysis, process is still ongoing, we plan to present very fresh research results concerning differences in changes of use of health care services, drugs, social services and social allowances, active labour market policy measures periods of (un)employment, insurance contributions and benefits, etc. before and after various mental disorders treatment forms where received as well as rates of participation in crime (as victims or as perpetrators), rates of deaths and their causes.