OBJECTIVES: PA costs have increased during the last years, due to an increment in the number of affected patients. Our goal was to establish the profile and costs of PA in a healthcare plan in Brazil. METHODS: We searched the HP database in order to identify patients with psychiatric conditions. This HP has 364 000 users. We identified 569 patients that received psychiatric care during a 22-month period (January 2012-0ctober 2013). For each patient, we identified the resources used and the costs associated to them.  RESULTS: Psychiatric care was responsible for 3.3% of all medical consultations performed in the HP and 4,955 hospitalizations, with a total cost of R$ 3 753 000 (US$ 1 563 000) (mean cost of R$ 4 560 (US$ 2 041) per patient). The most common diagnoses were substance abuse (ICD codes F10 to F19) and schizophrenia (ICD F20). Ancillary fees were responsible for 94% of total costs. Medications represented 7% of them. Antipsychotics drugs were responsible for 60% of the medication costs.  CONCLUSIONS: PA is associated with a high cost in Brazil. Most costs are due to hospital fees.