The purpose of this experimental study was to examine the outcomes of pharmaceutical care in schizophrenic patients. Ninety-three patients from three psychiatric hospitals were randomly assigned to receive pharmaceutical care (intervention group) and ninety-five patients received usual care (control group) matched by the severity of disease. Drug related problems (DRPs), patient knowledge and quality of life (QOL) were assessed in both groups. Costs of care were measured in both groups. The number of DRPs decreased significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.001). The mean knowledge score increased greater in the intervention group (p<0.001). The mean QOL score showed a trend towards improvement in the intervention group (both p<0.001). Cost-effectiveness ratios (CER) of pharmaceutical care and usual care for achieving good medication adherence was 16.54 and 16.06 USD/successful patient, respectively and CER for improved QOL was 17.30 and 14.98 USD/successful patient, respectively.
