Cost-effectiveness of psychotropic polypharmacy in routine schizophrenia care. Results of the ELAN prospective observational trial

•The to the best of our knowledge first longitudinal multi-center study observing patients with psychotic disorders under routine treatment conditions with regard to cost-effectiveness of psychotropic drug regimen.•Antipsychotic monotherapy was related to higher cost-effectiveness than any other type of psychopharmacological treatment.•374 inpatients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder were assessed over 24 months.