Researchers: Ido Lurie^{1, 2}, Daphna Shefet^{1, 2}, Shlomo Mendlovic ^{1, 2}, Saed Maree^{1, 2}

Background: A significant component of the cost of mental health care is drug-related. Studies from around the world indicate physicians’ low awareness of the cost of psychotropic medications, despite the assumption that knowledge regarding the cost of pharmacological treatment may impact treatment.

Objectives: To map the psychiatrists’ levels of knowledge of drug costs and their positions regarding the importance of awareness of the issue.

Method: Cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was distributed by e-mail to psychiatrists (specialists and residents) including: a) socio-demographic and professional information; B) knowledge-related questions - rates of National Insurance disability pension and the cost of medications; c) attitudes regarding knowledge of treatment costs. Correlations between socio-demographic variables and knowledge regarding treatment costs and consideration of costs when prescribing were examined.

Findings: 175 psychiatrists completed the questionnaire, 55% were men. The level of awareness of psychotropic medication prices and the rate of disability pensions was low. Sixty-eight percent rated economic considerations as being of high or very high importance. Seventy-seven percent were informed of medication prices by their patients. Doctors in the peripheral regions of Israel had a greater awareness of the economic aspects of treatment. Physicians who reported easy access to information regarding drug prices were less likely to err in estimating prices of medications.

Conclusions: Psychiatrists in Israel are not aware of the costs of psychotropic medications, despite their awareness of the importance of considering costs when prescribing medications. Access to information of medication costs is important.

Recommendations: Psychiatrists need to be better informed regarding economic issues associated with patient care. The cost of psychotropic drugs and information regarding rates of National Insurance disability pensions need to be more accessible to psychiatrists so that they may provide more viable treatment for individuals with psychiatric diagnoses.

Research end date: 08/2020