Challenges facing employers in the treatment of depression.
OBJECTIVE
To review the challenges of treating depression in the workplace in the environment of increased health care costs.


CONCLUSIONS
The cost of health care is on the rise, and employers and employees are at odds over who will share the burden of these costs. The focus of cost containment has been to minimize drug cost; however, employers need to be aware of indirect costs of medical illness. Due to its prevalence and rate of undertreatment, depression is one of the main disease states that employers should target in their disease management efforts.


CONCLUSIONS
In order to treat depression appropriately, we must consider the social stigma, treatment barriers, and health care structure that exist to treat depression. Additional outcomes data is needed to demonstrate to employers, the largest purchasers of health care, the benefit of managing depression in the workplace.
Avey
Steven G
SG
Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy, 100 North Pitt St., Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA. savey@fmcpnet.org
D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D011613:Psychotherapy