A
study published this week in
JAMA Psychiatry estimated that the economic burden of adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in 2024 was $366.8 billion. Healthcare only accounted for 10% of the total—indirect costs such as lost productivity, premature mortality, and unpaid caregiving accounted for the largest share.
Why It’s Relevant
Schizophrenia is a leading cause of disability globally, and effective treatment is out of reach for many people. As a result, the illness carries a substantial economic toll driven by factors like medical costs, supportive services, disability benefits, reduced quality of life, and burdens placed on caregivers. Understanding the relative contributions of both the direct and indirect costs of schizophrenia is essential to inform policy that can allocate limited resources in an optimal way.
By the Numbers
- By combining data from a targeted literature review and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the authors calculated the total societal burden of schizophrenia in the United States in 2024 as $366.8 billion.
- Indirect costs ($291.8 billion) were more than three times the direct costs ($75.0 billion).
- Health care spending ($36.7 billion) accounted for less than half of the direct costs, with supportive housing and homelessness ($35.2 billion), justice system interactions ($11.9 billion), and Social Security disability benefits ($5.1 billion) accounting for the rest.
- Unemployment and reduced wages accounted for $55.4 billion of indirect patient costs, while quality-of-life impacts were valued at $41.4 billion, with an additional $47.5 billion from shortened life expectancy.
- Caregivers shouldered the brunt of the economic burden at $165 billion, a figure that included unpaid wages, out-of-pocket expenses, health care costs, and lost productivity.
- Costs per individual were estimated at $119,436 ($24,421 direct, $95,015 indirect) and varied by state, ranging from $110,975 in Utah to $126,225 in Alaska.
The Other Side
Some of the older sources of data that the researchers used may not reflect the current state of care. Additionally, changes in costs or utilization beyond inflation may not have been captured.
Takeaway Message
“Despite the profound societal burden of schizophrenia, funding for treatment and research also remains low,” the researchers wrote, adding that
federal research funding for schizophrenia declined from $255 million in 2015 to $206 million in 2023. “A sustained research agenda is essential to drive innovation, improve care delivery, and reduce the long-term costs associated with schizophrenia,” they concluded.
Related Information
Source
Holly B. Krasa, et. al. National and state societal costs of schizophrenia in the US in 2024. JAMA Psychiatry. Published January 28, 2026. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.4383
(Image: Getty Images/iStock/Khaosai Wongnatthakan)