title: Resource use and costs associated with patients treated for depression in primary care.
abstract: We investigated medical resource consumption, productivity loss and costs associated with patients treated with antidepressants for depression in primary care in Sweden. Patients on treatment for depression were followed naturalistically for six-months, and data on patients' characteristics, daily activity and resource-use were collected. The total cost per patient was estimated at euro 5,500 (95%CI euro 5,000-6,100) over six months in 2005 prices. Direct costs were estimated at euro 1,900 (euro 1,700-2,200), 35% of total costs, and indirect costs at euro 3,600 (euro 3,100-4,100), 65% of total costs. The cost for antidepressants represented only 4% of the total costs. We conclude that the burden of depression is high, both to the individual as well as to wider society, and there seems to be a particular need for therapies that have the potential to improve productivity in depressed patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Medical Management Centre, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. patrik.sobocki@ki.se
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sobocki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Agren
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Krakau
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Runeson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mårtensson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jönsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003863:Depression / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents